Context

• Before orbiting astronauts on India's first manned mission to space in December 2021, the Indian Space Research Organisation will send 'Vyom Mitra', a 'lady robot' in the unmanned Gaganyaan spacecraft.
• Vyom Mitra will be used for an unmanned flight of ISRO’s GSLV III rocket in December 2020, which, along with a second unmanned flight in July 2021.
• The lady robot, equipped with a head, two arms and a torso, is built to mimic crew activity inside the crew module of Gaganyaan.
• It is capable of conversing with astronauts, recognising them, and responding to their queries.