Artificial Intelligence

As China and the US vie for the moon, private companies are locked in their own space race

By Sharmila Kuthunur published 8 February 26

Falling launch costs and private innovation are fueling a new space race, transforming Earth orbit into a fast-growing global marketplace.

China joins race to develop space-based data centers with 5-year plan

By Julian Dossett published 5 February 26

China will work on establishing space-based data centers as a part of a larger five-year plan to expand the nation's already significant presence in space.

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover completes its 1st drive planned by AI

By Sharmila Kuthunur published 3 February 26

"The fundamental elements of generative AI are showing a lot of promise in streamlining the pillars of autonomous navigation for off-planet driving."

Can scientists detect life without knowing what it looks like? Research using machine learning offers a new way

By Amirali Aghazadeh published 3 January 26

If nonliving materials can produce rich, organized mixtures of organic molecules, then the traditional signs we use to recognize biology may no longer be enough.

SpaceX plans to go public in 2026, seeks $1.5 trillion valuation: reports

By Mike Wall published 11 December 25

SpaceX plans to go public in 2026 and will seek a valuation of $1.5 trillion, according to media reports.

AI helps pilot free-flying robot around the International Space Station for 1st time ever

By John Loeffler published 11 December 25

"This is the first time AI has been used to help control a robot on the ISS."

Startup announces 'Galactic Brain' project to put AI data centers in orbit

By Josh Dinner published 9 December 25

Aetherflux has focused its efforts on space-based solar power, with the goal of "building an American power grid in space."

NASA spacecraft were vulnerable to hacking for 3 years and nobody knew. AI found and fixed the flaw in 4 days

By Tereza Pultarova published 8 December 25

An AI start-up has found a vulnerability in security software protecting NASA's ground control communications with satellites in space.

AI is making spacecraft propulsion more efficient – and could even lead to nuclear-powered rockets

By Sai Susmitha Guddanti, Preeti Nair, Marcos Fernandez Tous, Sreejith Vidhyadharan Nair published 7 December 25

From bicycles to rockets, learning through experience – whether human or machine – is shaping the future of space exploration.

AI helps build the most detailed Milky Way simulation ever, mapping 100 billion stars

By Keith Cooper published 20 November 25

Simulating a billion years using previous best-resolution simulations would take almost 36 years of real computing time.