As AI technologies evolve, they hold immense potential for transforming space operations. However, there are significant challenges for both Earth-based and onboard AI, including cybersecurity threats, supply chain vulnerabilities, and the complexity of operating in extreme environments. Given the sector’s strategic nature, the national security implications of these challenges make it imperative that India adopts a comprehensive approach to AI development in space. It must leverage its own strengths as well as strategic collaborations with trusted partners to balance innovation with security. This brief examines how key spacefaring countries are integrating AI into their space operations, identifies their strengths and areas of development, and charts a way forward for India’s AI-driven space ambitions.
AI in Space Operations: Opportunities and Challenges (Amoha Basrur, Observer Research Foundation)
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