Space exploration is changing fast. And the big question now facing us is: Do we still need humans out there? With AI taking over many tasks, it’s time to think about what role humans should play in space missions.
AI and robots have made space missions cheaper and more efficient. They can collect data, make decisions and do complex tasks without needing humans to step in. This has made long missions, like trips to Mars, more possible.
While AI takes over some tasks, human spaceflight still relies on astronauts’ skills and teamwork, and astronauts themselves continue to rely on their training and support teams. Preparedness remains key to bridging resource limitations and enabling astronauts to rely on their knowledge when technology cannot fully meet mission needs. This balance between human and algorithmic oversight is evolving with upcoming lunar missions, where emerging technologies enhance both astronaut training and mission operations. As AI technologies advance, their integration into space missions prompts questions about how much of a role they should play. While AI can streamline processes, the stakes in space missions are far higher than on Earth, where decisions can quickly escalate into safety-critical situations. This raises an important question: As AI’s capabilities grow, should its role in space exploration expand, or does human intuition remain irreplaceable for navigating the unknown?
AI’s capabilities are advanced enough to overshadow humans in certain areas. But humans have always been indispensable for tasks beyond the reach of early technology. Even today, human intuition and creativity remain unmatched, particularly in unforeseen situations where AI might falter. Yet, ensuring human health and safety in space is both risky and costly, and will become even more so during future programs like Artemis. As technology progresses, should countries prioritize sending AI or humans into space?
Reducing human roles impacts more than just technology; it touches on ethical, economic and societal dimensions. Astronauts symbolize humanity, culture and international collaboration. Countries with astronauts in space are perceived as leaders in the space domain, and sending private astronauts signifies a robust space economy. Human presence in space inspires global audiences, fosters international cooperation and motivates future explorers. As technology advances, we must revisit our understanding and assumptions about the significant role humans play in space.
These considerations urge us to reflect on the broader context of human and technological roles in space exploration. Human involvement drives innovation, creates new markets and unites people, making space exploration a collective endeavor. If human roles diminish, how will the space economy evolve? What about the geopolitical advantages of programs like Artemis? How might a reduced human presence in space negatively impact life on Earth?
The World Economic Forum projects the space economy to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035. As costs drop and accessibility increases, space innovations are transforming industries like transportation, defense, retail and digital communications, reshaping business, society and consumer goods.
Astronauts serve as the critical link between advanced technology and practical applications. A reduced human presence in space risks slowing progress in areas essential for both space and Earth, including disaster forecasting, humanitarian response, environmental monitoring, healthcare innovation, climate change mitigation and resource management — key elements that define the transformative power of space exploration. These elements form the core framework for the majority of space agencies’ business models, justifying that investments in space not only propel technological advancement but also bring significant benefits to life on Earth. However, a diminished human presence in space could weaken the entire chain that supports human spaceflight, stretching from research centers and industries to government initiatives.
Space agencies and nations must reach a shared understanding of fundamental terminology. Specifically, there needs to be an agreement on what constitutes “human” in space, in order to distinguish humans from other space bodies and ensure that the rights of humans are recognized, and agreement on what humanity truly represents in this frontier. Without such an agreement, it becomes increasingly difficult to envision a sustainable international ecosystem that will successfully explore and colonize the universe.
The future of space exploration will require unprecedented collaboration between humans and technology. The next frontier lies in integrating humans and AI in operations, allowing technology to coexist with human limitations and values. However, humans can be unpredictable, and it’s challenging to predict outcomes without understanding or data. Here, humans are both the creators of AI and the source of the unknown. The challenge is to blend human imperfection with high-performing technology.
Humanizing technology will be crucial in building trust and reliability in human-technology interactions. Innovations like brain-machine interfaces could enable seamless communication between humans, particularly astronauts, and machines, mirroring how smart devices have transformed human interaction with technology, bridging intuition and precision.
This reevaluation is a global effort to create a new era in which humanity will be redefined both in space and on Earth, fostering a growing equilibrium with advanced technology. As we enter a new space age, the question remains: Will AI change human roles in space, or will it enhance them? The answer hinges on our ability to blend technology with the human spirit of exploration.
Ilaria Cinelli, PhD FAsMA FAsHFA, is an engineer, expedition leader, Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association and the Aerospace Human Factors Association with over a decade of experience in space healthcare and exploration. UNOOSA has recognized her as one of the most influential women in space since 2020, and in 2023, the European Patent Office honored her as one of the 50 tech voices in Europe, the sole representative for healthcare and space exploration. She serves as academic editor and is currently accepting chapter submissions for the upcoming book “The Human Element in Advancing 21st-Century Space Exploration” which aims to explore the multifaceted roles humans play in the realm of AI-driven space missions. Submission details can be found at IntechOpen.
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