Now, sustainable space habitation is not an idealistic vision but upcoming event. The need of long-term functioning space habitats is increasing because now private space travel and space digging become more common. That’s why space habitation is the most fascinating quest for space scientist. The space architects are using two technologies to fulfil this demand; AI and machine vision. These both technologies are revolutionizing the space interior designing because rapid modelling and simulation is done by AI algorithms. It has ability to identify and address security issues and can also streamline the construction process. In this article we will dive deep in AI- assisted space habitats.
NASA is employing all resources to colonize humans to another planet like Mars. Â This new exploration strategy has two key aspects, first is sustainability and second is autonomy. This means that scientists want to pave the path for the future settlement of humans beyond the low earth orbit and these missions should be autonomous and independent of earth controllers. Significant advancements in artificial intelligence algorithms could achieve these both dimensions. AI can optimize life-supporting systems, monitor habitat infrastructure, enhance human decision-making, manage space debris, and ensure the safety of inhabitants of exoplanets.
What is Space Habitat?
Space habitat means liveable environment for humans beyond the low Earth orbit. It should have ability to provide oxygen and eliminate CO2, provide fresh water and food, supply power, and manage solid waste. Space settlements require life-supporting systems that are regenerating all resources, necessary for liveable environment. As harsh surroundings in space is not suitable for humans to survive. So, long-term space habitation needs a human friendly environment such as fresh air and water, food, and protection in severe weather conditions. It can be achieved if engineers will succeed in designing of refugee for space inhabitants to shield them form ionising radiation, weightlessness, extreme temperatures and atmospheric pressure, and adverse weathers.
AI-Assisted Space Habitats
Streamlining Life Support Systems
Space sustainable habitats need fresh air to breath, fresh water to drink, regulated climate, and shelters in harsh conditions. These all facilities are provided by life-supporting systems, which will be artificially created by humans for exoplanets settlements. AI can asses datasets from sensors observing oxygen, carbon dioxide, and impurity levels to improve life support system functioning. Efficiency is improved by machine learning algorithms capable of detecting patterns and making adjustments. These algorithms can conserve resources and reduce waste. Safety and sustainability of long-term space missions is enhanced by AI-equipped life support systems. AI- powered robots are helping in detecting malfunctions, conducting repairs without human involvement. This decreases the workload of space inhabitants and ensures the nonstop operations of critical systems.
AI a More Efficient Designer of Space Habitats
Generative AI and computer vision are revolutionizing the designing space habitats because AI can analyze data very quickly. Generative AI can model new space ecosystems by using machine learning algorithms. AI analyze the large datasets of previous experiences to understand the structures and bonds, then develop new designs of territories. AI enables systems to analyze vast amount of data collected from space stations modules, spaceflight, and given by hypothetical scenarios. These machine learning algorithms analyze data very quickly and produce a new space habitat according to our demands. AI designs systems are more efficient and faster than humans. AI give more efficient habitual designs because they cannot only analyze data but also manage space debris and resources, and have adaptability to unseen situations.
AI-monitoring of Habitat Infrastructure
Space habitats bounds sophisticated infrastructure such as photovoltaic cells, batteries, hydraulic systems, dust filters, and many more which require constant supervision. AI powered systems made autonomous inspection of infrastructure for damage or for repairing by using cameras and image recognition. Mostly AI-equipped robots are used to repair destructions if detected by computer vision. Regular AI-driven monitoring and renovation enhances the safety and sustainability of space infrastructure by reducing the risks of system failures. For example, AI-equipped drones can detect any crack or destruction in or outside of the spacecraft and robots can repair these abnormalities by utilizing machine learning and these AI robots can also monitor life-support systems to enhance their efficiency.
 AI Upgrading Health and Safety
There are many medical concerns for astronauts in long-duration space missions such as osteoporosis, muscular dystrophy, carcinogenic risks, and mental distress. AI portable sensors are able to monitor cosmonaut biometrics, sleep, workout, and fitness levels. Data is monitored by AI health assistants for sign health issues. These AI health assistants prescribe medication, exercise, provide diet plans for astronauts, and also alarms the medical staff after sensing the chronic diseases. AI also ensures the safety of astronauts by monitoring the environment and forecasting the weathers. AI-assisted supervision of space environments optimizes the physical and mental health of space explorers during long-duration spaceflight. These AI-advanced tools upgrade the space habitats for social communication, entertainment, and fun within the habitats.
AI in Detection of Hazards
AI empowers the sensors to detect hazardous situations like combustion, cracks, and mechanical faults within space habitats. For detection of these hazards in real time, all sensor like smoke, heat and gas sensors are coupled with computer vision systems. These coupled systems alert astronauts immediately after detecting hazardous situations. Some AI driven systems may as much competent to execute emergency protocols to eradicate fires or isolation of habitats. In future, monitoring of life-supporting systems with computer vision will become crucial with growing complexity of habitats. This detection of hazardous situations enhances the safety of astronauts during space missions.
AI Boosting Decision-Making
AI powered systems are able to work autonomously. So, AI and machine learning techniques enhances the human decision-making ability because this AI software can alert the astronauts and mission planners in any emergency situations by autonomous navigation. As in space consequences are more and deviation is lower, so AI help astronauts and researchers by providing insights and guidance through data analysis, anomaly detection, and making adjustments to surroundings. Now astronomers can make decisions more precisely and accurately.
For example, AI enhances safety of space explorers by alarming the harsh conditions before they emerge, enabling the squad to safeguard themselves and also solve problems in real-time.
The Harsh Realities of Space Habitation
There are many challenges faced by astronauts in space like microgravity, cosmic radiations, extreme weathers etc. That’s why space habitation is journey full of harsh realities. In space missions most important problem is microgravity or weightlessness because basic functions are influenced by gravity.
Space Adaptation Syndrome
In early days of mission’s astronauts face difficulties to adapt with space environments because as gravity decreases, weightlessness increases which causes space adaptation syndrome like disturbed stomach, disorientation, lethargy. This needs to take preventive measurements such as medication and exercises.
Osteoporosis and Muscular Dystrophy
The harsh environments of space cause bone and muscle loss, which is very risky for health of astronauts. It is crucial to maintain the mass of bones and muscles by proper exercise and diet containing Ca and Vitamin D. But still, bone density may decrease by 20% in long-term spaceflight.
Variations in Hydrostatic Pressure
As we move forward in space the effect of space environments becomes prominent. Because of microgravity cardiovascular system of space travellers is also impacted, as fluids in body shifts upwards and hydrostatic pressure is decreased. This variations in hydrostatic pressure causes eye problems, migraine, and space anaemia. Special elastic suits are recommended to wear to immune these effects.
Ionizing Cosmic Radiations
As around the earth ozone layer provides protection against harmful radiations but as we travel in deep space then ionizing space radiation are very harmful for astronauts. These radiations may cause serious problems like cancer, eye infections etc.
Prospective of Space Colonization
Artificial intelligence is brightening the future of space because machine learning algorithms employing AI are revolutionizing the space interior designing by 3D modelling. These AI systems are also capable of autonomous navigation, resource management, optimizing space usage, can repair destructions, and maintenance of space ecosystems. But still, there are many challenges like cosmic radiations, microgravity, and extreme temperatures should be addressed for long-term spaceflight.
Conclusion
In this article we have explained the space habitation. As researchers and scientists are trying to colonize humans to any other planet except earth because due to overcrowding earth natural atmosphere is being disturbed. So, a liveable environment is needed in somewhere else in the universe. AI-powered software and machine learning is offering companionship to space travellers during long-term space missions. AI enables astronauts in constructing efficient and sustainable space habitats because AI algorithms optimize life-supporting systems, design better interiors of space colonies, and enhance human decision-making ability by autonomous navigation.
 AI-powered robots can monitor and maintain the ecosystems by detecting risks and adapting to unseen situations. They enhance the safety and efficiency of space missions. But still there are many challenges like microgravity, space radiations, and harsh environments should be addressed and solved for constructing a sustainable space habitat. AI and computer vision will be the core helping tools in construction of liveable habitats for humans in deep space.
By
Zeenat Mushtaque, Master of philosophy in Solid State Physics
Dr. Abid Hussain Nawaz, Ph.D. & Post Doc
