Bengaluru: The countdown has begun!
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has started integrating Vyomitra, the AI-powered humanoid robot developed by its Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), into the Gaganyaan G1 crew capsule that will be launched into space in December.
India Today reported that Vyomitra has been delivered to ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre, which is leading the Gaganyaan Mission, and the integration process has started.
Gaganyaan G1 will be an unmanned capsule that will bring back vital data from space before a manned mission. Vyomitra, whose name blends Sanskrit words for “space” (Vyoma) and “friend” (Mitra), will act as a human simulant and flight analyst for the mission, which marks India’s most ambitious space test yet.
Shaped as a half-humanoid with a robotic head, torso, and arms, though lacking functional legs, Vyomitra is specifically designed for microgravity conditions.
The skull, measuring 200 mm x 200 mm and weighing just 800 grams, is built from heat-resistant, lightweight AlSi10Mg aluminum alloy. Inside, Vyomitra houses advanced artificial intelligence, enabling it to read the crew module’s display and commands, operate mission-critical controls, and communicate in Hindi and English, it has been reported.
For the Gaganyaan G1 flight, Vyomitra will serve as the human proxy. It will analyse flight procedures, while monitoring environment parameters such as air pressure and temperature. It carries specialised sensors to track mission data.
The humanoid robot can operate environmental control systems, issue warnings of air pressure changes, and assist with switch panel functions, essentially mimicking many roles a human astronaut would fulfil.
Vyomitra is also programmed to interact with mission control on Earth, perform microgravity experiments, and observe how space travel affects various simulated physiological parameters. The data it collects will prove crucial for India’s first crewed Gaganyaan flight, slated for 2027.
The humanoid will let ISRO test life-support and safety systems in an authentic yet risk-mitigated way, ensuring that, when Indian astronauts finally board Gaganyaan, all essential systems have faced rigorous, real-world conditions.
