How AI in Space Exploration is Revolutionizing Space Travel

The Use of AI in Space Exploration

Space programs have long been criticized for being dangerous, expensive, and impractical, but the use of AI in space exploration is changing that. The latest deep learning algorithms are increasingly being integrated into our spacecraft, rovers, and radio telescopes to make space travel safer, more affordable, and ultimately more meaningful.

From autonomous floating droids assisting astronauts to scientists calculating vast interstellar star maps, it’s certainly exciting to live in a time where artificial intelligence and space exploration are no longer the stuff of fiction.

How is AI used in Space Travel?

Space travel is no simple task, but when AI is used in space travel, deep learning algorithms can more accurately measure atmospheric conditions. This improves fuel expenditure by navigating a more effective route. Many of the automated systems that keep our astronauts alive are beginning to benefit from advances in AI being used in space. The further that AI is integrated into our spacecraft, the safer it will be for the craft to dock with the international space station and extend its landing gear on its return to our planet.

The CIMON 2

One new and exciting addition to the final frontier has been the CIMON 2 – an autonomous robot designed to assist astronauts both technically and emotionally. Think of it as a lopsided basketball-sized Amazon Alexa with a touchscreen interface on its flat side. CIMON 2 can propel itself through the zero gravity of the cabin using small fans and air tubes. 

CIMON 2 is programmed to analyze tone of voice to assess levels of stress which is vital in such an unpredictable place as space. It also serves as a database of information in an otherwise isolated environment. Astronauts need to be entirely self-sustaining to survive. Having unlimited access to as much information as possible is the best way to ensure they can meet any challenges they may face up there, and this is where utilizing AI in space exploration can be life-saving.

The Subaru Telescope

The Subaru Telescope is a 26-foot Telescope on the summit of Maunakea, an island in Hawaii.

The telescope maps the observable universe, and from there, scientists use a new machine-learning technology called AI SWIMMY (Subaru WIde-field Machine-learning anoMalY).

This AI space technology is used for “anomaly detection”, which is the process of identifying rare events that create patterns. They allow scientists to predict where pivotal cosmological events like supernovas are likely to occur.

Having the foresight to determine where these events will take place gives scientists the opportunity to develop the means of observing phenomena like black holes. With the application of AI, many are confident that we will begin to understand more about the life cycle and our solar system like never before.

How is AI Being Used to Identify Black Holes?

Some scientists are employing AI space technology to determine the likeliest location of black holes. So little is known about this elusive phenomenon that identifying where they are is the first step in unlocking their mysteries. Until that day comes, we have AI to thank for helping a team of Nobel Award-winning scientists create the most accurate rendition of a black hole to date.

Currently, there is a contradiction between the known laws of gravity— or the general theory of relativity—and the behaviour of particles in theoretical physics—or Quantum Mechanics. Studying black holes provides scientists with the opportunity to solve a centuries-long issue in the field of theoretical physics which may explain the very nature of reality.

Space Rovers on Mars

Mars rovers are vehicles that explore the surface of Mars and send feedback to Earth via a high-gain antenna (HGA). They are equipped with cameras that allow engineers to drive them through the Martian surface. These rovers use AI to differentiate objects in the planet’s environment. Similar mechanisms are already being used here on earth to capture pests in order to reduce the number of pesticides used in crops.

Newer rovers are being designed to have legs that hop rather than traditional wheels, so scientists can analyze previously unexplored terrain like mountains. AI algorithms are needed to calculate these movements.

Artificial Intelligence in Space is Saving Money Through Space Rovers

Utilizing AI in space exploration also makes sense from a monetary perspective because it is one of the best ways to ensure the protection of such expensive assets as spacecraft and unmanned rovers. Building autonomous rovers that learn to steer away from hazardous features like craters is a good way to prevent these investments from getting lost or damaged. The more sophisticated and complex these remote explorers become, the more expensive and time-consuming they are to build, which makes the application of AI all the more important.

The Search for Life in the Galaxy Using AI

The homepage for the SETI Institute is devoted to a single question: where will we be when we find life beyond Earth?

SETI as we know it today has been in operation since the early 1980s, and to date, we have yet to find verifiable proof of a signal from another world.

Most of what SETI picks up is a mixture of natural and man-made sounds. AI and machine learning can sift through data much faster than would otherwise be possible. As AI becomes more refined, it can recognize what is natural and what is man-made so that it may isolate any anomalous data for further study.

As one astronomer from Manchester put it, the possibility of a signal from another world is like a needle in the proverbial haystack, so they’re teaching AI to remove all the hay leaving only the needle behind.