Vyommitra
{{Short description|Indian robot astronaut}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox robot
| name = Vyommitra
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| image = Vyommitra (Space friend), ISRO.jpg
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| manufacturer = Indian Space Research Organisation
| country = India
| year_of_creation = {{Start date and age|2020}}
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| type = Humanoid robot
| purpose = Space-faring robot
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Vyommitra (Sanskrit: {{lang|sa|Vyōma}} "space", {{lang|sa|Mitra}} "friend") is a humanoid robot with appearance of a woman designed for space travel. It was designed at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to function aboard the spacecraft Gaganyaan, a crewed orbital spacecraft. Vyommitra was first unveiled on 22 January 2020 at the Human Spaceflight and Exploration Symposium in Bengaluru.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/gaganyaan-vyommitra-talking-humanoid-isro-space-1639077-2020-01-22|title=Gaganyaan mission: Meet Vyommitra, the talking human robot that Isro will send to space|last=Dwarakanath|first=Nagarjun|date=22 January 2020|website=India Today|language=en |access-date=2020-01-22}}{{Cite web|title=IAA-ISRO-ASI Symposium on Human Space Flight and Exploration was organised at Bangalore|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/update/24-jan-2020/iaa-isro-asi-symposium-human-space-flight-and-exploration-was-organised-bangalore|website=www.isro.gov.in|date=2020-01-24|accessdate=2020-01-25|archive-date=4 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804152242/https://www.isro.gov.in/update/24-jan-2020/iaa-isro-asi-symposium-human-space-flight-and-exploration-was-organised-bangalore|url-status=dead}}
Built mostly out of an aluminium alloy to withstand high pressure and vibrations,https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/isro-design-skull-humanoid-gaganyaan-mission-9534361/lite/ It will accompany Indian astronauts on space missions and be a part of uncrewed experimental Gaganyaan missions before the crewed flights.{{Cite news |date=2020-01-22 |title=Meet Vyom Mitra, first Indian 'woman' to ride to space |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isro-to-send-lady-robot-vyomamitra-in-unmanned-gaganyaan-spacecraft-ahead-of-human-spaceflight/article30625261.ece |access-date=2020-01-23 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite news |date=24 Jan 2020 |title=ISRO to send humanoid Vyommitra in unmanned Gaganyaan spacecraft ahead of human spaceflight |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/isro-to-send-humanoid-vyommitra-in-unmanned-gaganyaan-spacecraft-ahead-of-human-spaceflight/articleshow/73576959.cms |access-date=29 Aug 2021 |work=The Economic Times}} It is presumed that it will take its first flight on the Gaganyaan G-2 unmanned mission in 2025.
Objectives and abilities
The robot is part of the ISRO's aim to substitute animals with humanoid robots on experimental missions, with the goal of better understanding the effects of prolonged exposure to radiation and microgravity environments on the human body during space travel.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48918280|title=Why is India sending robots into space?|date=2019-07-25|access-date=2020-01-25|language=en}}
Vyommitra can mimic human activity, recognise various humans, and respond to their queries in both Hindi and English. The robot is expected to be aboard uncrewed Gaganyaan missions to conduct experiments in microgravity environments and monitor module parameters. In crewed missions, it will also support astronauts by simulating human functions.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/1st-glimpse-of-vyommitra-the-humanoid-for-gaganyaan-its-a-she/articleshow/73513989.cms|title=Gaganyaan mission: First glimpse of 'Vyommitra', the humanoid for Gaganyaan; it's a 'She' {{!}} India News |first1=Chethan |last1=Kumar |agency=TNN |website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2020-01-22 |date=22 January 2020 }}{{Cite web |date=2020-01-22 |title=Vyommitra is ready to launch with Gaganyaan |url=https://ddkvaranasi.co.in/what-is-vyommitra/ |access-date=2020-01-22 |website=The Indian Express |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.loksatta.com/desh-videsh-news/vyommitra-the-humanoid-for-isros-mission-gaganyaan-dmp-82-2066411/|title='व्योममित्रा'ची पहिली झलक! भारताकडून 'ती' पहिल्यांदा जाणार अवकाशात|date=2020-01-22|website=Loksatta|language=mr-IN|access-date=2020-01-22}} It can handle environment control and life support systems, perform switch panel operations, and give environmental air pressure change warnings.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-22 |title=Isro unveils humanoid that will take Gaganyaan flight |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/isro-unveils-humanoid-that-will-take-gaganyaan-flight/story-zUzb78pyEK1hcZt4djQp2I.html |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}
The prototype models of Vyommitra have finished trials,{{when|date=March 2024}} and the engineering models are undergoing trials. The Vyommitra flight model to be used in the Gaganyaan missions is also being built by the ISRO.{{needs update|date=March 2024}}
Union Minister of State, Jitendra Singh, said in early February 2024 that the uncrewed Vyommitra mission is scheduled for the third quarter of 2024, while the crewed mission is scheduled for launch in 2025.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-04 |title=Woman Robot Astronaut 'Vyommitra' Ready For Solo Space Mission Ahead Of ISRO's 'Gaganyaan' |url=https://www.news18.com/india/woman-robot-astronaut-vyommitra-ready-for-solo-space-mission-ahead-of-isros-gaganyaan-8766026.html |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=News18 |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2024-02-04 |title=Isro's woman robot astronaut 'Vyommitra' to fly into space in third quarter of this year: Minister Jitendra Singh |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/isros-woman-robot-astronaut-vyommitra-to-fly-into-space-in-third-quarter-of-this-year-minister-jitendra-singh/articleshow/107405651.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-02-04 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}