AI meets space: What is Vyommitra's role in ISRO's Gaganyaan mission?

As the countdown begins for December's historic mission, ISRO prepares to launch Vyommitra—an AI-enabled half-humanoid robot—as part of the Gaganyaan Spaceflight Mission.

This carefully orchestrated uncrewed mission represents more than a technological milestone: it marks India's decisive entry into an exclusive club of nations (Russia, the United States, and China) capable of human spaceflight.

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Vyommitra, derived from the Sanskrit words vyoma (space) and mitra (friend), is a humanoid robot with the appearance of a woman designed for space travel.

Built mostly out of an aluminium alloy to withstand high pressure and vibrations, this sophisticated machine will serve as humanity's advance scout before Indian astronauts venture into the cosmos.

The robot's mission profile is both comprehensive and critical. Designed to address critical safety issues such as temperature, pressure, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels, Vyommitra will lead the way during the uncrewed mission. It is also equipped with the capability to monitor module parameters, issue alerts, and execute life support operations.

"The operational scope of this robot extends far beyond simple monitoring. The humanoid is pioneered to replicate human-like activities and functions in space, communicate seamlessly with the Life Support System, handle queries and six-panel operations, and convey alert messages during the need of time", explained space analyst Girish Linganna. 

What makes Vyommitra different?

Interestingly what distinguishes Vyommitra from conventional space robotics is its humanoid design philosophy.

Classified as a half-humanoid robot due to the absence of legs, Vyommitra possesses the ability to bend forward and sideways. Resembling a human, it features facial expressions, speech capabilities, and sight functions.

To overcome the language hindrance during the commencement of the mission, it is well-designed to interact in both Hindi and English. 

"Vyommitra, designed as India's first female humanoid astronaut, will have its skull weighing 800g, measuring around 200mm x 220mm, and made of high-strength aluminium alloy", Linganna remarked. 

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan has said that over 7,700 ground tests related to the Gaganyaan mission have been completed, and over 2,300 more tests will be conducted before March 2026.

ISRO has also incorporated safety measures, including an escape system and nine parachutes, to ensure the spacecraft's safe return. The mission will validate critical systems before human astronauts embark on their journey to a 400-kilometre low-Earth orbit for a three-day mission.

Vyommitra and the world - United States

Vyommitra's significance becomes clearer when viewed alongside international precedents.

NASA's Robonaut series established the template for humanoid space robots. Robonaut 2 was launched on STS-133 on February 24, 2011, and was delivered to the ISS, becoming the first humanoid robot in space.

The core idea behind the Robonaut series is to have a humanoid machine work alongside astronauts, with R2 approaching human dexterity: it is reportedly able to perform tasks such as changing out an air filter, without modifications to its existing design.

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R2 was unveiled in 2010, and NASA mission managers were so impressed that they decided to make room on a shuttle mission and send the robot to the International Space Station.

However, a mysterious hardware problem kept Robonaut out of action since at least 2015, so in 2018, it returned to Earth for repairs.

This experience underscores the challenges inherent in space robotics and the importance of thorough ground testing—precisely what ISRO is conducting with its extensive 10,000-test campaign.

Vyommitra and the world - China

China has also embraced robotic helpers in space. For instance, an intelligent robot named Xiao Hang (little space) has assisted astronauts aboard China's Tiangong space station using human-robot collaborative interaction software.  

Additionally, China's Tiangong Space Station is set to welcome a new crew member, a humanoid robot called Taikobot. Taikobot weighs roughly 25 kg, stands around 1.6m tall, and represents China's commitment to robotic space exploration," pointed out Linganna. 

A difference in approach

The international comparison reveals distinct approaches. While NASA's Robonaut emphasised tele-operation and human-robot collaboration, China's Xiao Hang focuses on experiments related to human-robot spatial relationships, robot behavior characterisation and multimodal interaction technologies.

Vyommitra occupies a unique position as a mission-critical safety validator, designed specifically for pre-flight verification, rather than ongoing operational support.

Looking ahead

The broader implications of Vyommitra's mission extend beyond immediate technical objectives. It is designed to engage in the microgravity assessment of diverse materials and systems (how they respond in space) to provide valuable inputs for the Gaganyaan mission that will carry human astronauts next year. This data collection will prove invaluable for India's ambitious space station plans. 

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The December launch timeline reflects ISRO's methodical approach to human spaceflight safety. In the fourth quarter of this year, the first uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan-G1 will be launched.

This will be followed by two more uncrewed missions before early 2027, when India will send its own 'Gaganyatri' (astronaut) to space and bring them back safely.

This carefully sequenced approach distinguishes India's human spaceflight program from more accelerated international timelines, and reflects ISRO's careful, calculated approach amidst other nations that prioritise speed.