by AI has discovered over 27,000 new celestial objects around our Solar System, with over 1.3 million cataloged asteroids, prompting a constant effort to identify and track these threats to Earth from outer space.
AI algorithms like THOR and HelioLinc3D have significantly accelerated asteroid detection, reducing the risk of unexpected impacts. However, studies are still exploring if AI can accurately track the orbit of every celestial object. Techopedia explores AI’s role in asteroid identification and how NASA and ESA missions like DART and Hera protect Earth from catastrophic impacts.
The Function of AI in Asteroid Finding
AI is increasingly responsible for identifying and tracking 1.3 million asteroids, some traveling over 55,000 mph. These asteroids aid in Earth-based and space-telescope observations, with the James Webb telescope discovering 138 new ones in December 2024, ranging from the size of a bus to a stadium.
As our understanding of asteroid threats deepens, advanced algorithms are being developed to process fluid data tracking asteroid trajectories and collisions. One such technology is THOR (Tracklet-less Heliocentric Orbit Recovery), which connects light points across multiple images to identify moving objects like asteroids in archival telescope images, despite not initially intended for this purpose.
THOR, a space probe, has identified over 27,000 new asteroids from over 400,000 archived images in just five weeks, a feat that would have taken decades in the pre-AI era. This rapid analysis of massive cosmic datasets is changing the way scientists approach asteroid research, revealing potential threats.
The Expanding List of Asteroids and Its Consequences
AI’s recent discovery of known asteroids in the Asteroid Belt has some positive aspects, including providing valuable data for space-related endeavors such as understanding asteroid topology, Solar System origins, astrobiology, future spacecraft navigation, and potential mining resources. However, the discovery also raises concerns about potential misuse of space resources.
AI’s recent discoveries of around 150 near-Earth asteroids have raised concerns about their potential hazards. Although none pose an immediate threat to Earth, their proximity emphasizes the need to mitigate future threats. NASA and ESA have designated missions to develop and refine strategies for asteroid destruction or deflection in response to these potentially dangerous celestial objects.
The Difficulties of Locating and Avoiding Asteroids
AI’s success in detecting asteroid-hunting is limited by the sheer number of interplanetary objects, their varying sizes, orbits, and trajectory-changing collisions, making it challenging for machine learning algorithms to maintain real-time surveillance. The ultimate challenge lies in deciding what action to take when AI flags an impending collision.
NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) successfully impacted asteroid Dimorphos in 2022, demonstrating asteroid deflection using kinetic impact. The test altered Dimorphos’s orbit by 32 minutes, providing proof of concept for future planetary defense strategies. However, NASA warns that more research is needed to understand asteroids’ responses to similar impacts.
The European Space Agency (ESA) launched Hera in October 2024 to study Dimorphos, observing the long-term effects of DART’s impact. Hera’s goal is to refine deflection techniques and prepare for future threats. While kinetic impact is the preferred method, other proposals like gravitational tractors or nuclear weapons are also on the table.
The Bottom Line
AI platforms like THOR and HelioLinc3D are revolutionizing the detection and cataloging of celestial bodies in our Solar System’s asteroid belt. The next step is to train AI to enhance our ability to identify asteroids threatening Earth’s orbit, providing an early warning system.
The ethical dilemmas surrounding AI use are changing due to the scale of the task and potential consequences of undetected asteroid threats. Even AI critics may withhold objections, as AI’s inclusion in identifying and tracking asteroids could be vital for Earth’s safety in the cosmos, ensuring our long-term safety.
