The In-Space Physical AI Workshop, held recently at the Ion District in Houston, convened top scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and government leaders to explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in space exploration — a domain poised to drive scientific discovery, economic growth and technological advancements.
Organized by Rice University’s Office of Innovation in partnership with NASA, Purdue University and the Ion, the two-day event attracted over 200 guests as they engaged on a wide range of topics relating to applications of AI in the space industry.
Rice President Reginald DesRoches welcomed attendees, highlighting the importance of the event “for Texas and certainly for Houston.” Citing the city’s legacy in space exploration, DesRoches said “today’s event represents a pivotal moment” and noted how the workshop fosters vital collaboration across sectors to drive innovation in space.
NASA’s Nicholas Skytland provided an overarching view of the event, including the significance of its location in Houston ⎯ home to the Johnson Space Center, which has served as the epicenter of human spaceflight for over six decades. Skytland discussed the growing space economy, emphasizing Texas’ unique position as a hub for space technology and innovation, and encouraged attendees to explore how AI can streamline everything from spacecraft navigation to crew health management.
“This is just the start of this new era of exploration for space,” Skytland said.
Sanjoy Paul, executive director of Rice Nexus, director of AI Houston and lecturer in computer science at Rice, served as one of the main event organizers. Paul highlighted Rice’s potential to play a key role in implementing AI in space exploration, pointing to key areas of expertise where Rice researchers are making an impact.
Among several examples, Paul cited Kaiyu Hang’s work on robotic manipulation ⎯ an essential aspect of autonomous spacecraft maintenance and derisking spaceflight missions ⎯ and Vaibhav Unhelkar’s work on human-robot collaboration.
“Our researchers are pushing the envelope on what’s possible,” he said.
Paul also pointed out that the workshop ⎯ now in its second year ⎯ was greatly enhanced by the collaboration with Purdue, whose Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence boasts an impressive roster of experts working at the intersection of AI and a broad range of application domains.
Shirley Dyke, director of the Resilient Extra-Terrestrial Habitats Institute and the Don and Patricia Coates Professor of Innovation in Mechanical Engineering at Purdue, highlighted the enabling role these technologies will play toward autonomous operation of lunar and cislunar infrastructure.
“This workshop is a wonderful opportunity to share ideas on how the scientific community can work together to use AI for realizing the next generation of human spaceflight,” Dyke said.
Dyke was one of several Purdue researchers and staff members who helped organize the event. They included Lawrence Buja, Marshall Porterfield, Shaoshuai Mou, Shreyas Sundaram and Ran Dai.
Norman Garza, executive director of the Texas Space Commission, took part in a fireside chat on the second day of the event and emphasized the critical role that the Texas government plays in ensuring that the state solidifies its reputation as a leading destination for companies working in the space industry.
“AI has been a regular theme shared with the Texas Space Commission board of directors over these past several months,” Garza said. “Forums such as this one organized by Rice University certainly helps to provide a platform for conversation about how this innovation is related to space exploration. Big ideas from subject matter experts are useful to the commission as we endeavor to deliver a strategic plan to the Texas Legislature. We welcome input through our website, Space.Texas.Gov.”
The workshop helped underline the role that commercial companies play in the current space exploration ecosystem. One of the panels dedicated to startups in this arena featured several Rice alumni who are now leading companies at the forefront of space-AI integration.
Anton Galvas, an alumnus of Rice’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business and CEO of AiKYNETIX, discussed his company’s AI-driven technology for real-time human motion analysis in space.
“Astronauts face unique physical challenges in microgravity,” Galvas explained, “and our technology provides immediate feedback to enhance their movement and efficiency, which can be crucial for mission success.”
This tool, initially developed for fitness diagnostics, has evolved to aid astronauts in injury prevention and performance optimization, showcasing how innovations in AI are contributing to human health in space.
Martin Heyne, also a Jones School MBA alumnus and head of strategy at Intuitive Machines, shared insights into his company’s mission to build infrastructure in cislunar space. Intuitive Machines, which is responsible for creating lunar landers and lunar rovers, has integrated AI to ensure safer and more accurate landings on the moon. Heyne described how AI can address challenges from previous missions, where slight deviations in landing impacted operations.
“With AI, we can analyze landing trajectories in real time, providing alerts if adjustments are needed,” Heyne said. The company is also working to establish a lunar communication network to support future exploration with plans to deploy five satellites in lunar orbit over the next five years.”
James Holley, a Rice mechanical engineering alumnus and co-founder of Novium, presented his work on space robotics. His company focuses on the intricate mechanics required to move equipment in extreme space environments, where radiation and temperature fluctuations pose constant challenges.
“Our robotics technology is designed to operate in harsh conditions without direct human intervention,” Holley said. He emphasized that Houston’s rich history in space and Rice’s academic strengths in engineering create an ideal environment for aerospace innovation.
The workshop also delved into the ethical dimensions of AI, particularly regarding the accuracy and accountability of autonomous systems. As space exploration becomes increasingly reliant on AI, ensuring these systems operate as intended becomes paramount.
Reflecting on the legacy of Houston’s space industry and the collaborative spirit of the Ion District, Paul expressed the hope that AI-powered solutions could unlock new possibilities for missions to the moon and Mars and for human spaceflight in general.
“The potential applications of AI in space are boundless,” he said, “and with partnerships like these, Houston and Rice University are positioned to lead this exciting frontier.”
- Videos are available at:
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML9o1rIhdh8
Description: Artificial intelligence in space exploration at Rice University
(Video by Brandon Martin/Rice University; additional footage by Walley films)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iCOaTaDyRg
Description: In-Space physical AI conference at the Ion
(Video by Brandon Martin/Rice University) - Access associated media files:
-
https://rice.box.com/s/fiu3gtxot0xplxar7xcabtt3bceibcfl
CAPTION: event photos and videos (Photos by Jeff Fitlow and Brandon Martin; videos by Brandon Martin)