The astronaut training facility for Gaganyaan in Bengaluru.
New Delhi: Woman robot astronaut “Vyommitra” will fly into Space ahead of Indian Space Research Organisation’s “Gaganyaan” mission, India’s first-ever manned space flight carrying Indian astronauts into Space.
While the uncrewed robot flight “Vyommitra” will take place in the third quarter of this year, “Gaganyaan” will be launched next year, Union Minister of State for Space Dr Jitendra Singh said here today.
“Vyommitra” is a name derived from two Sanskrit words namely, “Vyoma” (meaning Space) and “Mitra” (meaning Friend). This female robot astronaut is equipped to monitor module parameters, issue alerts and execute life support operations. It can perform tasks such as operating six panels and responding to queries.
Dr Jitendra Singh elaborated that the “Vyommitra” astronaut is designed in a manner to simulate human functions in the Space environment and interact with the Life Support System.
As a run-up to the launch of “Gaganyaan“, the first Test Vehicle Flight TV D1 was accomplished on October 21, 2023. This was meant to qualify the crew escape system and parachute system. “The human rating of the launch vehicle is complete. All the propulsion stages are qualified. All the preparations are in place,” Dr Singh said.
The Gaganyaan project envisages a demonstration of human space capabilities by launching a crew of astronauts into an orbit of 400 kilometres and then bringing back these human astronauts safely to earth by landing them in India’s sea waters.
Meanwhile, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that “Chandrayaan 3″, which landed on the South Pole of the Moon on August 23 last year, is following its normal expected course of action. The vital inputs sent by it will be shared in the course of time.
– global bihari bureau
