Vyommitra (from the Sanskrit vyoma, "space," and mitra, "friend") is a humanoid robot developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to fly aboard India's Gaganyaan crewed-spaceflight program. Vyommitra is a "half-humanoid" — it has a head, two arms, and a human-like torso, but no legs — designed with the appearance of a woman. It was first unveiled on January 22, 2020, and is intended to fly on uncrewed Gaganyaan test missions ahead of Indian astronauts, simulating human functions and helping verify that the crew module is safe for people.
Availability
Vyommitra is a space-program robot, not a commercial product — there is no price or purchasing path. It was developed at ISRO facilities (the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, with fabrication reported at the Central Tools and Training Centre in Bhubaneswar). Reports put the project's cost at roughly ₹40–50 lakh (~$41,000–$52,000 at May 2026 rates), completed over about four months. Vyommitra is being prepared to fly on an uncrewed Gaganyaan test flight.
Full Specifications
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) |
| Unveiled | January 22, 2020 |
| Type | "Half-humanoid" — head, two arms, and upper torso; no lower limbs |
| Appearance | Designed with the appearance of a woman ("space friend") |
| Mobility | Can bend sideways and forward; no walking |
| Capabilities | Operates spacecraft control panels and switches; monitors temperature, pressure, and other cabin parameters; performs life-support-related tasks; issues alerts to mission control |
| Interaction | AI-powered voice interaction; speaks Hindi and English; recognizes and converses with astronauts; responds to commands from ground stations |
| Purpose | Simulate astronaut behavior and test crew-module systems on uncrewed Gaganyaan flights |
Significance
Vyommitra is central to India's human-spaceflight ambitions. Rather than flying animals to test how spaceflight conditions affect a living body — as some nations historically did — ISRO designed Vyommitra to ride uncrewed Gaganyaan test missions and verify that the crew module's systems and environment are safe before Indian astronauts fly. As a "smart crew interface" that can operate panels, monitor the cabin, and communicate, Vyommitra represents both a practical safety tool and a milestone in India's space-robotics capability.
Vyommitra vs Related Robots
- Vyommitra vs NASA Robonaut 2: Both are legless/upper-body humanoids associated with spaceflight; R2 actually operated aboard the ISS, Vyommitra is built for Gaganyaan test flights.
- Vyommitra vs Android Technics FEDOR: Both are humanoids tied to national space programs; FEDOR flew to the ISS in 2019.
- Vyommitra vs MANAV: Both are Indian humanoids — MANAV a small educational robot, Vyommitra a space-mission half-humanoid.
Source: ISRO
