This Half-Humanoid Robot Is Going to the Moon

When the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sends its first astronaut into space, it won't have to worry about building her a spacesuit. Vyommitra is a half-humanoid robot that ISRO plans to send to space this December during a bid to successfully land an unmanned spacecraft on the moon. In September, the space agency tried--and failed--to touch down on the lunar surface when its Vikram lander experienced a braking problem. If Vikram had landed safely, India would have been the fourth country to land on the moon, following Russia, the U.S., and China. This time around, as part of India's next space mission, Vyommitra will sit in the Gaganyaan spacecraft, which is equipped to fit up to three humans.