Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh
Science & Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday announced that India will send Vyommitra, a female robot astronaut, to space ahead of the manned Gaganyaan mission.
Jitendra Singh made the revelation during his speech at the Aaj Tak Agenda event, providing insights into the upcoming initiatives in India's space exploration endeavours.
Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Vyommitra made her debut on January 22, 2020, during the Human Spaceflight and Exploration symposium held in Bengaluru. During her mission, Vyommitra will engage in microgravity experiments, overseeing module parameters, and aiding astronauts during crewed missions by emulating human-like functions.
Vyommitra is programmed to communicate in Hindi and English while executing a variety of tasks. It possesses the ability to replicate human actions, identify different individuals, and provide responses to inquiries. In technical terms, Vyommitra can execute functions related to environmental control and life support systems, manage switch panel operations, and issue warnings for changes in environmental air pressure.
Vyommitra is set to not only participate in the Gaganyaan mission's testing phase but will also join astronauts during the primary human flight mission scheduled for 2025.
During the event, Jitendra Singh emphasised the rapid growth trajectory of India's space sector, projecting the nation's space economy to reach $40 billion by 2040, in alignment with international observers' optimistic estimates.
The minister acknowledged the substantial increase in private investment in space startups, with over Rs. 1,000 crore collectively raised since April of this financial year, attributing this surge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reforms.
From one startup in 2014, India now boasts 190 space startups, with some evolving into profitable enterprises, a testament to the government's commitment to fostering innovation and private participation in the space sector.
ISRO's pivotal role in generating foreign revenue through satellite launches was also highlighted during the event. ISRO has launched over 430 foreign satellites to date, resulting in substantial income from European and American satellites.
Jitender Singh drew attention to the cost-effectiveness of India's space missions, citing the Chandrayaan-3 mission's accomplishment at a fraction of the cost compared to other international lunar exploration endeavours.
The minister underscored the practical applications of space technology in everyday life, including disaster management, infrastructure development, agriculture, telemedicine, and robotic surgery, emphasising its role beyond exploration.