NASA scientist proposes AI astronauts could replace humans on Mars missions

Planetary scientist Pascal Lee proposes that “artificial astronauts” — AI-powered humanoid robots with human-like physical capabilities — could serve as actual crew members on Mars missions within the coming decades. These space-rated artificial humans would eliminate the need for life support systems and consumables required by human astronauts, while potentially surpassing human capabilities in space exploration tasks.

What you should know: The concept builds on rapid advances in robotics and artificial intelligence that could mature alongside planned Mars mission timelines.

• Lee, who chairs the Mars Institute and directs NASA’s Haughton-Mars Project, presented this vision at a Space Robotics Workshop in July during a talk titled “Humans To Mars in the Age of AI.”
• These artificial astronauts would possess “the same physical traits and mobility as humans and equipped with artificial general intelligence (AGI),” according to Lee.
• The robots could perform spacewalks without life-support systems and wouldn’t require the large amounts of consumables needed to sustain human crew members.

The big picture: Lee envisions an evolution toward “artificial super astronauts” powered by artificial super intelligence (ASI) that could eventually outperform humans in all aspects of space exploration.

• These advanced robots could undertake missions to Saturn’s moon Titan and even interstellar travel to exoplanets.
• Rather than sending multigenerational starships, Lee suggests dispatching interstellar vessels carrying artificial super astronauts who would transport and safeguard human DNA to hospitable worlds.

Why this matters: The rapid development of AI and robotics is forcing strategic reconsideration of which capabilities to develop for planetary missions versus those that will emerge through broader technological progress.

• “This is forcing careful strategic thinking about what planetary exploration capabilities and systems to develop and include on missions, versus those that will mature anyway via broader societal advancements in robotics and AI,” Lee explained.

What they’re saying: Lee believes humans will develop a parental relationship with these artificial beings as they become more sophisticated.

• “It is important to realize that once we achieve artificial humans, let alone artificial super humans, our relationship with androids will change. We will no longer think of them as just machines but as our offspring,” said Lee.
• “We will be proud of them, like proud parents, and will live vicariously through their extraordinary adventures, including interstellar travel.”
• “I think humans will still go to space and explore Mars and beyond, but we will be in interesting company,” Lee concluded.

Who else is involved: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shares similar ambitions for AI-powered space exploration.

• Musk announced plans to launch uncrewed Starship rockets carrying Tesla Optimus humanoid robots to Mars in late 2026.
• “Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus. If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely,” Musk wrote on X.