NASA engineers use A.I. to design spacecraft parts

NASA's Use of AI to Design Spacecraft Parts

This transcript discusses how NASA is using artificial intelligence (AI) to design parts of spacecraft for future missions. The technology allows engineers to shorten the time it takes to develop specialty parts for spacecraft from months down to days, and the parts are lighter, stronger, and use less material than most human designs.

NASA's Push for a Permanent Base on the Moon

• NASA has named four astronauts that it will send to orbit the moon in the next Artemis mission.

• The mission is part of an ambitious push by NASA to establish a permanent base on the moon and prepare for a mission to Mars.

Challenges in Building Rockets and Spaceships

• Building rockets and spaceships fast enough to respond to obstacles in space is a new challenge.

• To address this challenge, NASA engineers are turning to AI to help design customized parts that are more advanced than ever.

How AI is Used in Designing Spacecraft Parts

• Ryan McClellan, a research engineer at Goddard Space Flight Center outside Washington D.C., is pioneering the use of AI to design parts of spacecraft.

• He calls them "enabled structures" which develop like bones do.

• The process starts with bringing two components of a spacecraft together.

• Engineers then let the AI tool run through all iterations before making it with digital manufacturing.

• The new technology allows NASA engineers to shorten development time from months down to days while producing lighter, stronger parts that use less material than most human designs.

Future Implications

• Dr. Cattle, who leads the NASA Engineer Directorate, says that this technology could be a vital resource for future missions.

Rapid Turnaround Technology

The technology of rapid turnaround should allow us to build things. Aspiring engineers should not worry about this technology completely replacing humans, at least not yet.

Human Designers Still Needed

• This technology will not completely replace humans.

• Human designers should still be needed.

Astronauts Heading to the Moon

Four astronauts, three Americans and one Canadian, are going to be heading to the moon.

Accomplished Group of People

• These four astronauts are an astonishing group of people.

• They have a lot of accomplishments among all of them.

• Two American naval fighter pilots and an engineer are part of the group.

Last Time Humans Walked on the Moon

• The last time humans walked on the moon these people weren't even born yet!

• It's astonishing to realize how much time has passed since then.