India to send a female robot ‘Vyommitra’ in the Gaganyaan Mission, says Union Minister of Science and Technology

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh announced on Saturday that India will be sending a female robot "Vyommitra" in the Gaganyaan Mission, at the G20 Conclave. This announcement comes after the roaring success of India's lunar mission, Chandrayaan -3 to the Southern Pole of the moon, propelling India to the spotlight in the field of astronomy.

The minister said that a trial spaceflight will be launched tentatively during the first or the second week of October. Followed by which, a female robot called 'Vyommitra' will be sent to outer space, which will mimic human activities. "In the second mission, there will be a female robot and she will mimic all human activities. If everything goes perfect, then we can have a go-ahead", said the Union Minister for Science and Technology.

He further stated that the Gaganyaan mission was previously scheduled for September this year, however the Covid pandemic delayed the process and now the first trial has now been postponed to the first or second week of October. "Now we are planning the first trial mission in October first or second week. Bringing back the astronauts is as important as sending them," said Singh. Hopeful of a successful mission, the Union Minister assured that the results of the trial run will determine the future of a mission with an astronaut as a part of it.

Mr. Jitendra Singh then lauded ISRO for the stellar success of Chandrayaan-3 to the Southern pole of the moon, making India the nation to do so. Moreover, he highlighted the role played by the Indian Prime Minister in invigorating such research undertakings.  "It happened because Prime Minister Narendra Modi threw open the space sector. Till about 2019, the gates of Sriharikota were closed, but this time the media and schoolchildren were invited. It was owned by the people this time”, he said.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the ISRO facility in Bangalore, and congratulated all the scientists for this achievement, and declared August 23 as National Space Day.  “For the first time in the history of man and the history of earth, humans are seeing images of that part of the Moon and India has done the job of showing these images to the world. All of you scientists have done it and the whole world is appreciative of our scientific spirit, our technology, and our scientific temperament”, he said. Moreover, Chandrayaan-3’s touchdown point was named the Shiv Shakti point by him.