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ISRO To Send Female Robot ‘Vyom Mitra’ In Unmanned Gaganyaan
A female robot named ‘Vyom Mitra’ will ride to space in the first test flight of Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) human space mission, Gaganyaan. ISRO unveiled its first ‘woman’ astronaut to an international gathering at the inaugural session of the “Human Spaceflight and Exploration—Present Challenges and Future Trends” in Bengaluru on January 22, 2020. Seated at a desk in a uniform and sporting her name on a custom-made ISRO identity badge, Vyom Mitra created a sensation as she introduced herself to ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Sivan and Principal Scientific Adviser Mr. K. Vijay Raghavan at the symposium on human space flight. The half-humanoid told her name to the visitors and the tasks that she could perform. The robot said that she can do switch panel operations, ECLSS (environment control and life support systems) functions, be a companion, converse with the astronauts, recognise them and also respond to their queries.
Dr. Sivan said that the humanoid will simulate the human functions required for space before real astronauts take off before August 2022. Two trial flights without crew will take place with a humanoid—the first around December 2020 and the second around July 2021.
Vyom Mitra is the result of a year-long toil of the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit, Thiruvananthapuram, according to IISU Director Dr. D. Sam Dayala Dev. ISRO will send the human-resembling model in a space capsule at the end of 2020 or early 2021 to study how she—and later real astronauts—respond to living outside earth in controlled zero-gravity conditions. She can detect and give warnings if environmental changes within the cabin get uncomfortable to astronauts and change the air condition. Vyom Mitra’s body has only torso and no legs. She can take up postures suited for launch and tasks and can take commands.