Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX, refused to give up easily. Its first three Falcon 1 rocket launches between 2006 and 2008 all failed. In 2010, the company shifted its focus to the development of a much larger rocket known as Falcon 9. It gradually began delivering cargo to NASA's International Space Station. The California-based aerospace company transformed itself over the next decade as a result of its ability to drastically reduce the cost of space travel. NASA launched people for the first time in ten years on May 27, 2020, aboard a rocket owned by SpaceX rather than NASA: a Dragon 2 capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
SpaceX has recently come to manage two-thirds of NASA's launches as well as research. The company also received a USD 2.9 billion contract to build a moon lander. Furthermore, SpaceX is bullish on its heavy-lift rocket Starship, which is currently in testing and has the potential to make interplanetary travel more affordable than ever before. What was previously unknown is how much of SpaceX's advancements in space travel are centered on AI.
SpaceX satellites are equipped with sensors that guide them through space and prevent collisions with debris and other alien objects. Satellite AI systems discover predictive patterns for planets, debris, and other satellites. However, SpaceX's Starlink has nearly collided with other satellites several times in the last year.
SpaceX is also collaborating with Microsoft Azure on the development of a fleet of satellites. Azure has an orbital emulator that can generate an entirely digital environment to assist users in visualizing satellite architecture. In a blog posted by the company, Microsoft Azure stated, “This allows satellite developers to evaluate and train AI algorithms and satellite networking before ever launching a single satellite. Azure is capable of simulating an entire satellite network, including complex, real-time scene generation using pre-collected satellite imagery for direct processing by virtualized and actual satellite hardware."
SpaceX employs an AI-powered autopilot program to assist rockets in navigating themselves from launch to ISS docking. SpaceX's artificial intelligence system monitors fuel usage and reserves, parabolic flight, weather, liquid engine sloshing, and other factors affecting rocket flights. These calculations are based on the rocket's trajectory to a specific point in space. This reduces the possibility of human error while also ensuring the flight's efficiency and safety.
The Falcon 9 rocket that carried the Dragon crew to the International Space Station is said to have used machine learning and computer vision to help it land. To help understand how to land the rocket, the system used a convex optimization algorithm and real-time computer vision to determine the best route.
In 2018, SpaceX launched a small robot called CIMON to the International Space Station aboard its Dragon cargo capsule. CIMON, which stands for Crew Interactive Mobile Companion, was the first AI-powered machine to fly into space. Airbus created the robot's AI system, which was based on IBM's Watson.
CIMON works as an astronaut's assistant, conversing with them and assisting them with routine tasks. CIMON can also transmit data to mission control. CIMON 2, which was released in 2019, was upgraded to include a 'Watson Tone Analyzer,' which could respond to a conversation based on emotion and tone. SpaceX, on the other hand, has stated that it does not intend to completely replace its human crew with robots.
SpaceX rockets have an AI-driven emergency abort system built in, which is a significant advantage. SpaceX successfully tested its escape system prior to the launch of Falcon 9. While SpaceX has made the most use of AI, AI and machine learning have been widely used in the field for a long time. Deep learning is used to classify Hubble Space Telescope images by simulating galactic formations. Rovers, such as NASA's Curiosity, use ML algorithms in the same way that self-driving cars do. NASA and Google have collaborated to use AI algorithms to detect signals from exoplanets by processing data from the Kepler mission. ML also helps measure the atmosphere of other planets. AI’s contributions have led NASA to set up its own Artificial Intelligence Group for basic research on space transportation, analyzing missions and deep space network operations.
Comments
Post a Comment