From Sci-Fi to Reality: AI's Role in Space Agencies
For over 50 years, AI has played an increasingly significant role in space exploration, with agencies like NASA and the European Space Agency utilizing AI technology to chart galaxies and send robots to other planets.
Machine Learning: Powering Space Missions
Machine learning (ML) technology enables programs to process vast amounts of data, find patterns, and make predictions. As ML advances, its applications will expand to more missions, allowing deep space missions to continue giving accurate data even at greater distances from Earth.
AI Enhancing Data Analysis and Prioritization
AI can comb through seemingly endless data in space, prioritizing the most important data sets for researchers and eliminating human error.
Rovers, Robots, and Autonomous Travel
For decades, NASA has sent rovers to celestial bodies, with machine learning algorithms now allowing these robots to navigate challenging terrains autonomously.
AI's Role in Discovering Evidence of Water on Mars
NASA's Curiosity rover recently captured a photo of rippled rock textures on Mars, providing the best evidence of water and waves.
AI Autopilot Systems for Spacecraft Launches
Elon Musk's SpaceX corporation uses an AI autopilot system on its Falcon 9 drone ships, enabling the spacecraft to launch or dock autonomously.
Tackling Space Debris with AI Assistance
AI is also being used to address space debris, with scientists at the European Space Agency training AI to avoid crashing into space debris and working on long-term plans to remove it.
Concerns and Potential Benefits of Powerful AI Systems
Despite controversies surrounding AI technology, proponents argue that human life could be enhanced as AI becomes more powerful, increasing productivity and GDP and assisting in fraud detection and cancer diagnoses.
