ISRO Chairman V Narayanan announced on Sunday that the humanoid robot Vyomitra will fly aboard the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission in December 2025, marking a key milestone in India's human spaceflight programme. Speaking post the successful LVM3-M5-CMS-03 satellite launch from Sriharikota, Narayanan revealed steady progress on Gaganyaan, with over 90% of work completed by dedicated teams. The half-humanoid Vyomitra—designed to perform life-support tasks and monitor systems—will validate crew module technologies ahead of the manned flight targeted for 2026.

The uncrewed test, using the LVM3 rocket, is the first of three planned flights to ensure safety for astronauts. "Most hardware has reached Sriharikota, and assembly is progressing well," Narayanan said, emphasising indigenous development. Vyomitra, a female-named robot capable of switch operations and conversations, previously underwent ground tests for microgravity simulations.

ISRO has ambitious targets, aiming for seven launches in the next five months. The lineup includes the LVM3-M6 in mid-December carrying AST SpaceMobile's 6.5-tonne BlueBird-6 broadband satellite, eliminating mobile tower needs; PSLV-C62 for EOS-01 by year-end; and SSLV-L1 for a customer payload.

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Further missions feature a PSLV demonstrating 34 new technologies, GSLV-F17 orbiting EOS-5/GSAT-1, and the industry's first fully assembled PSLV before March 2026. Space sector reforms have transferred five PSLVs to private consortia, boosting commercialisation.

These endeavours align with Gaganyaan's Rs 9,000 crore budget, fostering self-reliance via 600+ Indian vendors. Vyomitra's flight will pave the way for four astronauts' orbital sojourn. As ISRO accelerates, Narayanan's roadmap signals a packed orbital calendar, enhancing communication, Earth observation, and human space exploration capabilities for national development.

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