India plans to launch humanoid robot into orbit Vyommitra In the third quarter of 2024, according to Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Nuclear and Space, Government of India. The robot will check the functionality of the Gaganyan spacecraft’s life support systems before the astronauts go into orbit.

“The Vyommitra unmanned mission is planned for the third quarter of this year,” the Indian government’s press office said in an extensive press release. The robot’s name comes from the Sanskrit words “vyom” (“space”, “cosmos”) and “mitra” (“friend”). Developers confirmed that the female-shaped robot knows several languages ​​and can answer questions, including those related to the technical condition of the ship.

“Astronaut Vyommitra is designed to simulate human functions in the space environment and interact with life support systems,” the state minister emphasized. The robot can monitor the parameters of the orbital module, control the ship’s panels and answer questions from the flight control center. This mission will be an important step before the national crew’s first human space flight.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chief Sridhara Panicker Somnath had earlier said that India plans to send its first manned spacecraft into orbit by the end of 2025.