AI | How Is It Being Used In Space?

Space – the final frontier, once just for humanity, now for AI as well. From autonomous rovers navigating alien terrains to advanced data analysis for interstellar missions, AI has become an indispensable tool for both space agencies and private companies.

With the future of this field set to take flight, as companies like SpaceX plan to colonise Mars and governments worldwide begin eyeing up exoplanetary mining, you might wonder: what does the roadmap for this journey look like? And how is AI being used in space currently?

Autonomous Navigation

AI-powered systems, whilst still in their infancy, are being utilised by global space agencies to manage how spacecraft and rovers navigate and interact with alien environments. These systems enable complex real-time decision-making without the need for direct human intervention – a capability that becomes increasingly vital as we venture deeper into space, where communication lag time becomes a problem.

NASA's Perseverance rover is perhaps the best example of this technology in action. Equipped with advanced AI algorithms, it analyses high-resolution images and environmental data to navigate Mars' rocky terrain. Guided by pre-programmed criteria, it autonomously selects areas of scientific interest, optimising its research missions without the need for technicians to send instructions from Earth.

Data Analysis & Discovery

Space missions generate vast amounts of data, ranging from high-resolution images of distant galaxies to environmental readings collected from planetary surfaces. Manually processing this data through traditional methods is massively inefficient, which is why there has been a significant drive towards machine learning and AI algorithms designed to handle the bulk of the workload – albeit with occasional human oversight.

Perhaps the most notable application of AI in data analysis is exoplanet discovery. Telescopes such as NASA's Kepler and TESS generate vast amounts of observational data, capturing minute changes in starlight that could indicate the presence of planets orbiting distant stars. AI algorithms sift through this data, identifying potential exoplanets by recognising subtle patterns in light curves, which, in 2023, led to the discovery of 69 exoplanets.

Satellite Operations

AI has had a huge impact on day-to-day satellite operations by enabling them to perform a wide range of tasks autonomously, reducing the need for constant human intervention and facilitating real-time response. It's a breakthrough that has become critically important as the volume of space debris in recent years has grown untenable, prompting government bodies to offer grants for solutions to counter the threat of Kessler Syndrome – a chain reaction of collisions that could wipe out global satellites. 

AI has also started playing a pivotal role in enhancing Earth observation capabilities, identifying patterns and detecting anomalies to track and monitor environmental changes and natural disasters. Smart satellite networks are increasingly leveraging AI to optimise communication and data transmission by efficiently allocating bandwidth and minimising signal interference.

How AI Is Set To Be Used In Future Space Exploration

With Musk’s Mars 2050 programme on the horizon, scientists are expecting AI to serve as a cornerstone in establishing human colonies on other planets. Autonomous robots, powered by AI, could handle the initial phases of habitat construction, using locally sourced materials to reduce the need for transporting resources from Earth. These AI-powered robots could also be responsible for performing key tasks, such as managing life-support and agricultural systems, automating food production, and logistics.

In terms of interplanetary mining, valuable resources such as precious metals and rare earth elements exist in abundance on the Moon and asteroids, in volumes large enough to meet global demands. Transport problems are in the early stages of being addressed with the development of reusable rocket systems. However, human mining of these celestial objects remains a barrier unlikely to be overcome anytime soon, which is why the task is likely to be delegated to AI-driven robots equipped to autonomously locate, map, and mine mineral-rich areas. It is even possible, if not likely, that these areas could be hybridised with on-site manufacturing to support other interplanetary efforts, such as the colonisation of Mars, as transport from the Moon would benefit from its relatively low gravity and almost non-existent atmosphere.

In the very distant future – maybe a hundred years from now, but with the current rate of technological advancement, who knows – humanity may venture further into deep space, where AI will be essential for enabling spacecraft to operate autonomously over extended periods. These missions may face prolonged communication delays or even complete isolation from Earth. AI could manage onboard systems, ensuring the spacecraft remains functional, conserving resources, and responding to emergencies. Moreover, the capabilities of AI in the next 50 to 100 years may be advanced enough to think independently and adapt to unforeseen challenges, such as navigating through uncharted regions of space or countering unexpected threats like meteor showers.

The TLDR

AI is transforming space exploration, enabling humanity to explore the cosmos with unprecedented efficiency and ambition. As we look to the future, AI will be at the forefront of efforts to colonise other planets and harness the resources of the universe. The final frontier is no longer a distant dream but an achievable reality; what it will look like, though, is anybody's guess.

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