How AI Helps Space Research

By Embedded Advisor | Friday, December 13, 2019

Artificial intelligence contributes to standardizing space research programs by delivering advanced features like satellite motion control, smart navigation, data transmission, and effectively analyzing complex spatial data.

FREMONT, CA: The historical relationship between AI and space exploration brings amazing advantages and lets the scientists explore at the unimaginable pace. In recent years, the breakthroughs and discoveries of AI-based space tools and applications have gained momentum in space research programs. AI has made space research and exploration much more effective in the past few years. AI boosts space missions like people traveling to the moon and other planets. AI continues to play a vital role in modern space exploration as the complexity of space missions increases. Below are some of the points on how AI is currently helping the space industry.

Due to the complexity of space research missions, the operations of spacecraft and satellites in deep space generate a massive volume of data. This enormous volume of data needs to be transmitted to earth during particular windows of opportunity as host planets of spacecraft and satellites stay in different rotations and orbits. The interval of data transfer depends on the earth’s light-year distance from the host planet, which can be months or even years. If data transmission fails, there's a possibility of permanent data loss. AI offers a smart method to manage data transmission from distant planets to earth. The initial steps in space exploration are planet condition and environment analysis. Satellites collect a large amount of planetary data and images as the primary source. Here the major challenge is to recognize and understand the right information from the pictures. AI proves to be a useful tool for solving this issue too.

Another area where AI is majorly used is in spacecraft and satellite motion control. AI controls the action for spaceships or satellites like processing location information in a lesser timeframe. In the past few years, space missions have become increasingly frequent and sophisticated. There will be a growing demand for fast and self-adjusting AI-based navigation skills in the spacecraft and satellites, including orbit adjustment, autonomous navigation, and space station docking.

AI proves to the next-generation technology, which enables humans to explore unexplored parts of the universe and solve long-asked questions. By using AI algorithms, the spacecraft of the future can allow space researchers to travel and examine more.

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