Chinese Tiangong crew tests AI assistance during third spacewalk

The crew of China’s Tiangong space station has used an artificial intelligence system to assist in orbit for the first time. The three taikonauts aboard Shenzhou XX completed their third spacewalk with the support of AI, according to the China Astronaut Research and Training Centre. This is reported by China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS.

Delivered to the station by the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft on 15 July, AI was installed alongside new-generation spacesuits and supplies. Built on a Chinese open-source model, it is designed for manned space missions, featuring a knowledge base focused on aerospace flight standards.

Ahead of their latest extravehicular activity, Commander Chen Dong and crew member Wang Jie used AI to access the work schedule and operational guidance. The system provided relevant materials promptly, which the astronauts described as comprehensive.

Zou Pengfei, a member of the research and training centre, said the system integrates space-based and ground-based models. While the in-orbit version offers rapid support for operational tasks, the ground system enables more detailed analysis. The AI can be reconfigured for mission planning, data processing, and predictive analysis.

Other BRICS countries are also actively developing space technologies. According to ANI, a partner of TV BRICS, India plans to send a humanoid robot named Vyommitra into space in December 2025. It will test the spacecraft's systems, monitor the module's parameters and ensure the safety of the mission.

Russian specialists are also developing a robot assistant for cosmonauts on the International Space Station. In addition, they are creating a neural network to improve the accuracy of remote sensing images of Earth. This was previously announced by Dmitry Bakanov, CEO of the Roscosmos State Corporation, at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, according to the official website of the Russian Government.

In turn, Head of the Iranian Institute of Space Research, said that Iran is actively developing AI tools in space technology. In particular, artificial intelligence is used to process satellite data, improve the quality of images obtained from orbit, and develop navigation and communication systems. This was reported by IRNA, a partner of TV BRICS.