In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, informed that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is steadily leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the space domain, adapting with fast-paced technological developments in these areas. AI and ML solutions are being developed for launch vehicles, spacecraft operations, big data analytics, space robotics, and space traffic management, among others.
Singh said that the projects and programmes in the domains of AI being undertaken by the Department of Space are at different stages of feasibility studies and implementation. The key projects include:
- Launch vehicle and spacecrafts mission trajectory design and autonomous operations
- Launch vehicle and satellites health monitoring and prediction from the telemetry data
- Satellite data processing for resource mapping, weather prediction, disaster prediction, geo-intelligence (object and change detection), precision agriculture, agroforestry etc.
- Humanoid robots and chatbots
- Space robotics and smart manufacturing in space.
The minister said that the development and implementation of AI solutions are being incorporated into various ongoing projects and programmes of ISRO, based on technical feasibility and mission objectives. The cost of these AI solutions is subsumed within the overall funds allocated to the respective projects/programmes. Major ones include the Gaganyaan Program, the recently accomplished Chandrayaan-3 mission, operational launch vehicle and spacecraft programmes, earth observation data analysis, etc. Collaborative efforts between ISRO and institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) are involved in the development of a few niche AI applications.
Further, Singh informed that the major achievements and outcomes of AI in terms of enhancing space exploration include:
- Satellite data analysis and processing of India’s remote sensing, meteorological, communication, and navigation satellites
- Delivery of earth observation applications such as crop yield prediction, weather forecasting and nowcasting, disaster forecasting, land use land cover maps, urban expansion planning, detection of encroachment, built-up, settlement, urban waterbodies, forest cover changes, roads, dams, ships, vessels etc.
- Interplanetary missions such as Chandrayaan and Mars missions, including orbit manoeuvring and soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 including identification of the landing site.
The minister concluded that the Department of Space is taking several steps to adopt AI solutions at a faster pace in the space domain, across ISRO centres and encouraging the private sector as well. Cross-centre endeavours are being undertaken to enable technical exchange on advances in AI technology and its applications in the space domain. Some of the initiatives being discussed in the long term include the feasibility of setting up of dedicated labs for AI, upskilling employees in AI technologies through the skill development programme at respective centres and organisation of various national-level AI events/workshops/conferences/seminars.
