New Delhi: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has ditched animal testing and said it will be sending a humanoid robot to space before actually sending humans by 2022 as a part of the Gaganyaan project. 

Informing that the humanoid is almost ready, ISRO chairman K Sivan, according to media reports, said, “Our robot will be like a human, and be able to do whatever a man can do, although not as extensively as humans. We want to show that even the first flight will not go empty and also ensure that we utilise the opportunity in the maximum way. We have our own humanoid model that will be used." 

Since the 18th century, several animals were sent to space to the survivability of the spaceflight. 

We all know about Laika – a stray dog — which was the first living being to orbit the Earth on Sputnik 2, however several other dogs, monkeys, rabbits and insects have also flown. With the improvement in science several animals have gone to space and returned safely to earth, but before that several of them died. Laika, monkeys: Albert II, Albert III, IV, rats and several other animals were sacrificed in the name of science. 

India's maiden human spaceflight mission 'Gaganyaan' would be a major turning point in the country's space programme and allow New Delhi to catch up with global players, former ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair said.

He also expressed confidence that ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) would be able to undertake the venture by 2022, the targeted time-frame.

The objective of the Gaganyaan project is to carry a three-member crew to low earth orbit and return them safely to a predefined destination on earth.

ISRO plans two unmanned flights -- by December 2020 and in July 2021 -- before undertaking the manned mission by December 2021.

With inputs from PTI