Grants and Contributions

Generative AI has the potential to automate a variety of space mission operations tasks across satellite, robotic and human spaceflight missions, reducing the reliance on large teams of operators and analysts, lowering cognitive burden across operators and ultimately disrupting the current paradigm of space mission operations. In this project, Mission Control will build upon its leadership in AI for space by developing the Human-in-the-loop AI assistant for Live operations (HAL): a generative AI assistant designed to respond to analysis, search and summarization task requests common across satellite and robotic space missions alike to enhance operations productivity and efficiency, while ensuring accurate and explainable results. This project will advance Canada’s position as a global leader in AI and space, and lead to further investment, growth, and better overall returns to the company, investors and Canadian public in job creation, Canadian space ecosystem development and talent development.

The purpose of this CanExport SMEs agreement is to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for activities related to export market development that are part of an export business case for a specific target market, particularly where activities are targeting departmental priority markets and sectors.

Commissioning of a Machine Learning Operations Pipeline: Infrastructure and processes to manage data, models, and software are critical to deploying trustworthy and robust artificial intelligence solutions. This project will advance Mission Control’s core Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Pipeline, including data management, model staging, and cloud and embedded hardware to better serve AI-based solutions to customers in the space industry.

This project aims to advance several key research objectives in the area onboard spacecraft operations.

Mission Control proposes to develop an AutoNav system to enable continuous autonomous rover driving at a speed of 1km/h. AutoNav is composed of a flight and ground segment: a rover sensor and compute module hosting Xiphos’ and Mission Control’s suite of navigation algorithms, and mission operations software leveraging Mission Control’s Spacefarer TM product. AutoNav will be developed and tested to TRL 6 on rover prototypes in representative lunar lighting and terrain at Mission Control’s indoor high-fidelity Moonyard facility.

Mission Control proposes a new AI-integrated image processing system that will help spacecraft perform tasks autonomously and safely in these complex environments. The advancement of computer vision and autonomy algorithms for use with wide-angle field of view cameras will advance Canada’s leadership in space robotics, autonomous spacecraft, and safety in robotics operations, opening new capabilities for spacecraft to support our livelihood and economy on and off Earth.

To commercialize artificial intelligence software products and services for the global space exploration and commercial markets.

Mission Control proposes to demonstrate a Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) pipeline and corresponding software technology stack for deployment, characterization and improvement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models in an operational environment for Edge devices in Space. While AI has rapidly gained ground in terrestrial applications, the use of on-board AI for Space applications is nascent. Performance and operational considerations required for using AI models in these environments are not fully understood. By establishing a Canadian AI Lab in Space and performing an extended-baseline demonstration, Mission Control aims to further solidify its reputation as a global leader in on-board Artificial Intelligence.

Phase 2 of this project will develop and deploy an in-orbit AI lab in low Earth orbit whereby the technology to train, deploy and update deep learning models in space will be demonstrated to advance the reliability and trustworthiness of using AI in space.

The purpose of this CanExport SMEs agreement is to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for activities related to export market development that are part of an export business case for a specific target market, particularly where activities are targeting departmental priority markets and sectors.

Mission Control proposes to demonstrate a Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) pipeline and corresponding software technology stack for deployment, characterization and improvement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models in an operational environment for Edge devices in Space. While AI has rapidly gained ground in terrestrial applications, the use of on-board AI for Space applications is nascent. Performance and operational considerations required for using AI models in these environments are not fully understood. By establishing a Canadian AI Lab in Space and performing an extended-baseline demonstration, Mission Control aims to further solidify its reputation as a global leader in on-board Artificial Intelligence. This phase 1 project will develop, de-risk, and refine the implementation plan needed for a full demonstration of the pipeline and the technology stack for EdgeAI in Space, enabling Mission Control to make headway in this market.