One of the most fascinating quest for humanity is space exploration, because we want to understand the mysteries of universe, and want to colonies humane on any other planet except earth. That’s why our thrust for space exploration led significant achievements like installation on moon, launching of spacecraft towards far away planets, images taken from the outer most parts f our universe.
 Digital breakthrough in fields such as, mathematics, physics and engineering led these achievements, of innovative solution are needed to optimize the space mission because space mission are not easy to reach because of vast distance, unfavorable environments, and weather condition. AI is the most advanced tool to optimize space mission, as AI it has capability to manage vast data sets and can also make autonomous decisions.
AI in space Technology
How AI is enabling us to design spacecraft, analyze data, and communicate with satellite? How AI is opening new possibilities for new discoveries? Space is a vast and complex environment that possess many challenges for human and machines alive that’s why scientists and engineers are increasing turning towards AI to help the tasks such as designing spacecraft, navigating free space, analyzing data and communicating with satellites.
 One of the prominent examples of AI in space is space x rocket, which uses AI autopilot system to perform autonomous operations such as docking with international space station by asses. The system calculates the optimal trajectory of the rocket, by taking in account factors such as fuel usage atmospheric interference and liquid slashing with engine. It helps to optimize the performance and safety of the rocket and reduces the risks. Do you imagine a rocket flying without human intervention?
Another example of AI in space is CIMON 2, a robot designed, by AIRBUS and IBM that act as mobile virtual assistant for astronauts on board the ISS. CIMONZ uses IBM Watson. AI system to understand natural language commands, navigate using commands, and provide information, assistance and companionship to the crew. It can even asses their emotional states by analyzing their voice tunes. CIMON 2 is like a smart speaker that can flow around and can talk to you. How cool is that? AI is also used by NASA’s JPL. JPL stimulate various scenarios and conditions four future missions.
AI algorithms are used to optimize and design spacecraft for specific missions such as landing on Venus. AI is also used to analyze massive amounts of data, collected by satellites and rovers, such as image, spectrums and telemetry. One of the most impressive example of data analysis is NASA’s frontier development lab, (FDL), which accelerates the research by bringing the experts together, from academia, industry, and Govt. to tackle some of the complex problems in space explanation using AI. Some of the projects that FDL has worked on, include detecting exoplanets mapping lunar craters, predictions of solar storms and measurement of universe size. These projects help us to understand our place in cosmos and planning for future. AI is not only helping us in exoplanets of solar system but beyond.
How NASA Optimizes Mission trajectories?
Trajectory optimization is the best route for your trip. It is about the determining the most efficient and safest path for spacecraft to take. It involves considering multitude factor from fuel efficiency and time to safety. Now imagine it involves distance, gravity, fuel consumption. As wo move on roads with paper maps or GPS, similarly spacecraft also needs trajectory optimization with all considerable factors.
 As we push the boundaries of space exploration, we need more advance tools and that’s why Artificial Intelligence comes in, AI is changing the game and trajectory optimization with calculating fuel efficiency, gravity, and potential hazardous. AI algorithms provide an effective solution because of its autonomous navigation.
Space Mission’s Sophistication
The astronautical endeavors have matured since the early days of space exploration. Pioneer operations, like sputnik 1 and Vostok 1, was directed on core function such as delivering an object or human to the outer space and getting results. By enhancement of technology, the level of intricacy of space missions have also increased. Because use of AI, our direction shifted towards a long-time planet’s exploration, conveying probes to other planets, and even planes are made for colonization of humans on other planets.
In current space missions for collecting complex data, making real-time decisions, and management of resources over large distance, all these tasks performance need more than one spacecraft. One of the most impressive examples is NASA’s Curiosity rover, having capability of autonomous navigation, was tasked to analyze the soil sample of Mars and also for reporting back the results to Earth Stations. That’s why AI plays a vital role in space mission optimization and success.
AI in Optimization of Space Mission
- Mission Planning:
First and foremost, step towards success of space mission is mission planning Mission planning includes resource distribution, pre-assessment of risks may occur during mission, and trajectory optimization. AI algorithms are capable of spacecraft designing for a specific mission. As most efficient and most safe path can be chosen by applying models of AI. It is most important tool for the success of space mission.
- Trajectories Optimization.
To achieve our objectives in a space mission, trajectory optimization plays a pivotal role. There are many algorithms of AI, for instance, genetic algorithms and reinforcement learning are utilized to select the best path for spaceflight for a specific mission. The most efficient and safest path is selected, in other words trajectory is optimized by considering all factor effecting space mission includes gravity poles, weather condition, management of resource, potential hazardous and immunity for other unseen challenges for astronauts and spaceflight.
- Autonomous Navigation.
Autonomous navigation plays a very important role in optimization of space mission. There are many challenges for scientist and researchers of space because spacecraft should travel vast distance without any deviation. Communication delays between space stations and spaceships should be avoided and precise landing is also a necessity for success of a space mission.
 That’s why autonomous navigation is best tool to fulfill all these objectives. Because due to this ability space rovers can make real-time decision without any human input. AI enables them to make autonomous decision about their routes and mission objectives. They can also examine the neighboring planets and beyond.
Conclusion:Â
Space exploration has been captivating human beings since early days. As we are destroying our environment day by day, due to human activities natural habitats are disturbed. That’s why scientists and researchers are searching another human habitat like Earth. To understand the mysteries of the universe are fascinating us.
Our this thrust for space exploration led new inventions and discoveries like landing on moon’s surface, launching of spaceships to the other neighboring but distant planets of solar system and beyond. Because scientists want to colonies humans on Mars. These all approaches became possible due to advancements in technology and specifically with emergence of AI in space exploration.
AI helps in missions planning by calculating its safest trajectory with the help of autonomous navigation. AI gave assistants to astronauts as it is capable of real time decision-making and can also beat the harsh conditions in space. Even AI can understand the emotional states of human by their voice tunes like CIMONÂ 2. AI is the most advanced tool to optimize space mission, as AI it has capability to manage vast data sets, analyze data quickly, avoid communication delays and can also make autonomous decisions in any emergency.
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By
Zeenat Mushtaque, Master of philosophy in Solid State Physics
Dr. Abid Hussain Nawaz, Ph.D. & Post Doc
