Artificial Intelligence: Beyond the Biosphere
Part One: Where We Are Now
· By Dalia Haase ·
Artificial intelligence (AI) in space is no longer science fiction—it is a working reality. Space agencies around the world have safely integrated AI for decades, using it as a cosmic copilot assisting in mission support and space dominance. The United States (U.S.), Europe and China—all key spacefaring actors— have increasingly incorporated AI into their space operations, demonstrating the importance of timely decision-making without waiting on commands from Earth. While there are undoubtedly risks associated with a reliance on AI, there are also benefits to reap. But before forecasting how that application of AI in space stands to evolve, it is important to understand its current status within both national space agencies and commercial actors.
United States Capabilities
A growing number of programs use machine learning and autonomous-navigation AI to process massive datasets and operate spacecraft without real-time human interfacing. Leading this global shift is the U.S.’s NASA, serving as a prime example of how AI is continuously shaping agency operations and initiatives. NASA utilizes AI specifically for its autonomous rovers on Mars, which can navigate without human control. The Perseverance rover, for example, uses AI for 88 percent of its driving, in addition to an AI hazard-detection system to navigate the tough terrain and determine ideal research areas. The Mars-to-Earth communication process can take as long as 24 minutes with a human-rover interface; however, AI can drastically cut mission time by removing much of the need for humans to navigate.
AI has valuable applications beyond research and navigation, with the US incorporating it into space-based security systems. The U.S. has also used AI to monitor spacecraft, detect threats, and autonomously reposition satellites to avoid collisions. The United States Space Force (USSF) uses a prototype AI program known as Machina to track over 40,000 space objects using a global network of telescopes. Machina then uses collected data to determine which space materials it should track. AI systems such as Machina are essential for improving Space Domain Awareness (SDA), which, in turn, protects critical global infrastructure and safeguards US national security.
The U.S. commercial space sector is intrinsically linked to the AI-integrated space domain. SpaceX spearheads the commercial implementation of AI, demonstrating how machine learning systems can navigate, land and protect spacecraft without humans in the loop. Space X’s Falcon 9, a partially reusable launch vehicle, uses AI to account for fuel and thrust limitations to autonomously determine optimal landing paths. Furthermore, SpaceX’s Starlink uses tracking data from the US Department of Defense to identify high-risk debris and autonomously course corrects, demonstrating the deep collaboration between both the government and commercial sector.
European Capabilities
The European Space Agency (ESA) uses AI to filter imagery collection, rapidly process data, monitor systems, detect subsystem issues, and autonomously activate preventative actions. The start of ESA’s AI journey came in 2020, with a machine-learning satellite that could autonomously sift through and analyze data. This satellite used AI technology to discard cloudy images and send only useful data down to Earth. This demonstrated how onboard AI could reduce unnecessary data transmission and make satellite operations more efficient.
Following the de-orbit of the 2020 machine learning satellite, commercial involvement in the OPS-SAT research mission drove European AI advancements. OPS-SAT served as an in-orbit experimental platform, allowing European space companies to upload innovative technologies from Earth and incorporate successful AI into pre-existing space infrastructure. While ESA has since de-orbited the pioneering satellites, current operational satellites build on these concepts. Today, advanced and updatable AI technologies are onboard multiple Earth observation satellites.
Furthermore, ESA has used AI onboard key space infrastructure, such as the International Space Station (ISS), further testing its capabilities in space. Deployed inside the ISS’s largest research module, the European AI system known as ORBIT-STAR can detect issues and identify actions to prevent further damage. While it also sends data to ground control for further observation, ORBIT-STAR is able to identify risks at the subsystem level and implement viable solutions entirely autonomously.
Chinese Capabilities
China has incorporated AI into operations involving large-scale space infrastructure. The country distributes its space responsibilities across several organizations, with its largest government agencies being the China National Space Agency (CNSA) and China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). While CNSA is geared toward space policy and international cooperation, CMSA is specifically responsible for overseeing human spaceflight, integrating lunar activities, and ensuring AI remains operational. CMSA oversees all missions in the Tiangong Space Station and manages the integration of AI to ensure operational flexibility as crews rotate, equipment ages, and experiments change. Under CMSA, systems such as Wukong AI have been integrated and are crucial for operational guidance, mission planning, and station maintenance. More specifically, AI has demonstrated its potential: It has helped to facilitate spacewalks by using predictive analysis to enhance the safety of astronauts onboard. Wukong demonstrates how AI can be used for on-orbit support, task preparation, astronaut assistance, and more.
China’s national agencies also collaborate with the commercial sector, as CNSA and CMSA oversee the commercial venture known as the Three-Body Constellation. Zhejiang Lab leads the project and has partnered with multiple companies to develop the world’s first interconnected AI-enabled satellite network. Launched in May 2025, this network runs massive AI models for remote sensing and astronomy, and uses innovative technologies to revolutionize space-based networking. China’s Three-Body Constellation currently consists of 20 satellites as of October 14, 2026, and is on its way to a projected total of 2,800. This is significant, as it indicates a hardening of China’s resiliency in space. Launching satellites that operate independently from ground infrastructure drastically decreases latency as well as the satellites’ vulnerability to jamming or cyber disruption. As the space domain continues to grow, and the commercial sector continues to innovate, creating resilient infrastructure is key to remaining operational in contested environments.
Where We Are with AI in Space: A Final Thought
Nations have used AI for decades to improve space operations, but it is increasingly embedded into public- and private-sector space missions. The space domain is home to necessary capabilities that sustain navigation, communication, and military operations on Earth. However, shifting to a fully embedded AI system brings a range of concerns. As humans become less integral to space operations and surrender the role to AI systems, it will become crucial to put guardrails in place to ensure that infrastructure remains functional, efficient, and reliable. Future space leaders will not be determined by the nation that plants a flag first, but rather by which can efficiently use AI infrastructure to solidify its posture in the domain.