Inside NASA’s vision to control space stations with autonomous robots
Our future in space may see ISAAC control space stations, as well as space colonies on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Maybe we can rent unoccupied space stations out on SpaceB&B?
The software behind these amazing Astrobees is ISAAC — the Integrated System for Autonomous and Adaptive Caretaking.
“ISAAC is far more than just a management tool for our robotics and spacecraft systems. Our long-term vision is that it can transform a spacecraft into an autonomous robotic system itself,”explained Trey Smith, project manager for ISAAC at NASA’s Ames Research Center.
Before we see ISAAC control space stations, the system will need to learn how to deal with scenarios like the ones tested in April.
TheInternational Space Station, close to Earth, has been continually inhabited for more than 20 years. However, the environment of space is harsh (hence the choice of spacesuits instead of Hawaiian shirts and Bermuda shorts for astronauts).
Even as colonies are built in space both in orbit as well as on the surfaces of the Moon and Mars, these outposts will likely remain unoccupied a good deal of the time. This will result in the need for automated systems to maintain systems aboard the spaceborne domiciles.
Constant communication — between astronauts, ground controllers, and robotic systems — is necessary to make space exploration possible. As we head outward in space, NASA plans to place the Lunar Gateway — a lunarspace station— in orbit around the Moon.
“ISAAC is a key to making a station like Gateway work. The farther we go out into space, the smarter our spacecraft and robotics systems will need to be. We’re hoping ISAAC will be an assistant to future astronauts, even when they’re not there,” Smith explains.
With the first phase of testing complete, NASA is readying to advance this technology to a point where similar robotic helpers could completely take over operations aboardspace colonieswhen humans are not available.
The next series of tests for ISAAC will focus on the ability of autonomous vehicles to ferry cargo between the space station and visiting cargo spacecraft. Following that, the Astrobees and ISAAC will be tested in their ability to respond to simulated fires and cabin leaks.
We may see ISAAC control space stations andcolonies on the Moonand Mars in the next few years and decades. Let’s just hope it never watches2001: A Space Odyssey— it may get ideas.
This article was originally published onThe Cosmic Companionby James Maynard, the founder and publisher of The Cosmic Companion. He is a New England native turned desert rat in Tucson, where he lives with his lovely wife, Nicole, andMax the Cat. You can read the original articlehere.
Story byThe Cosmic Companion
Exploring the wonders of the Cosmos, one mystery at a time.Exploring the wonders of the Cosmos, one mystery at a time.
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