Use of AI in Space

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the replication of human intelligence processed by machines, especially computer systems. Specific applications of AI include expert systems, natural language processing, speech recognition, machine vision and space explorations.


Tue Jul 16, 2024

AI is revolutionizing space exploration from autonomous space flights to planetary exploration and charting the cosmos. AI empowers spacecraft with the ability to make intelligent decisions in real-time. It ensures the success and safety of our ventures by reducing human error, enhancing efficiency, and enabling autonomous decision-making. This enables us to explore the cosmos with unprecedented precision and effectiveness. The multiple ways in which AI helps us in space are navigation, maintenance, data processing, risk prediction, astronomy, weather forecasting, aiding astronauts, mission planning, etc.

Navigation 
AI can help rovers locate obstacles such as rocks and craters while on space missions. It can also help determine satellite objects and positions based on sensor data.
Maintenance 
Predictive maintenance algorithms monitor spacecraft systems, predict failures and suggest preventive measures. This is especially important for long-duration space missions. They are essential to detect and warn of any visible damage or wear and tear.
Data processing
AI tools can process large amounts of data from celestial bodies. They also help to analyze data to identify various trends and patterns related to space. For example, NASA uses AI to analyze datasets.
Risk prediction
AI can help to predict high risks, such as solar storms, space debris, novas, supernovas, and hypernovas as well. They can even predict any probable high-risk damage due to gravitational waves.
Astronomy 
AI can help astronomers map the universe, predict star and galaxy behaviour, and identify potential landing spots on celestial bodies. They can find various other unnamed celestial bodies.
Weather forecasting
AI is playing a pivotal role in outperforming conventional weather forecasting systems, especially when it comes to forecasting severe weather events like tropical cyclones, extreme temperatures, and floods, predicting climatic changes etc., thereby helping us in advance for the future.
Aiding astronauts 
AI has been a tremendous help to astronauts by providing them assistance in operations, navigation, satellite monitoring, weather and climate, and more…
Mission planning 
NASA uses AI tools to plan and schedule missions for planetary rovers. AI has also helped the International Space Station (ISS) in planning its missions and doing extensive deep space research.

The role of AI in space has been unprecedented. It makes jobs easier and makes space-related research faster. Information is readily available owing to AI. It is extremely useful in jobs like navigation, maintenance, data processing, risk prediction, astronomy, weather forecasting, aiding astronauts, mission planning and many more. AI's role in space exploration is transformative, processing vast data from celestial bodies and predicting risks like solar storms and space debris. It enhances spacecraft autonomy, reduces human reliance, and aids astronauts with operations, navigation, and satellite monitoring. So AI is definitely the future of space exploration and research.


Saesha Paul

~ Class 6, G.D.Birla Centre for Education and a student of SPACE-E-FIC STEM Club