AstroForge is putting AI in command of its next spacecraft

An asteroid-mining startup is developing AI software called "Solo" to autonomously control its spacecraft, reducing the need for teams of ground-based flight controllers. Most spacecraft rely on traditional control algorithms and teams communicating from Earth, but this approach requires expensive infrastructure that startups cannot afford, prompting the company to use a transformer-based neural network trained on thousands of spacecraft sensors instead. The company plans to test this autonomous system on upcoming missions, including one backed by NASA expected to launch in the coming years. This represents a shift from current spacecraft operations, as neural networks have rarely been used to control satellites, with most spacecraft autonomy depending on traditional control algorithms due to concerns about reliability.