India is poised to make history this December. The Indian Space Research Organisation is preparing to launch the first humanoid robot into space to assist in space exploration and to test environments prior to sending manned crews into the unknown. Vyommitra is India’s inaugural humanoid robot, developed by ISRO to support human space missions. With its human-like expressions, speech capabilities, and intelligence, Vyommitra is central to Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight program. The ISRO introduced Vyommitra in early 2020. The name originates from Sanskrit — “Vyoma” meaning space, and “Mitra” meaning friend — which translates to “friend in space.” This humanoid robot is engineered to serve as an intelligent, anthropomorphic companion for astronauts, managing both mechanical tasks and communication responsibilities aboard India’s crewed spacecraft. Vyommitra is more than just a test dummy; it is a semi-humanoid robot equipped with advanced sensors, voice recognition technology, and decision-making algorithms. Its main objective is to replicate human functions in space and to validate crew module systems before astronauts commence their journey. Gaganyaan will launch Indian astronauts — referred to as ‘vyomanauts’ by ISRO — into low-Earth orbit for the first time. Prior to this event, ISRO intends to conduct several uncrewed test flights, with Vyommitra onboard.
