Key facts
- AstroForge is developing an AI control system named "Solo" for its spacecraft.
- The "Solo" system is a transformer-based model designed for autonomous spacecraft operation.
- AstroForge plans to launch its first spacecraft controlled by "Solo" in 2027.
- The 2027 mission will be launched by Stoke Space and is backed by NASA.
- The company aims to address communication challenges and reduce reliance on ground control.
- AstroForge's previous spacecraft experienced anomalies and communication issues.
AstroForge, a startup focused on asteroid mining, is developing an artificial intelligence system to autonomously control its spacecraft, aiming to overcome the limitations of ground-based communication and control. The company's AI control stack, named "Solo," is a transformer-based model designed to handle tasks like anomaly resolution.
Unlike traditional spacecraft, which rely heavily on human operators and redundant control algorithms, AstroForge's approach leverages advances in AI. The "Solo" system integrates traditional control algorithms with AI models trained on specific subsystems and a broader intelligence layer fed by thousands of spacecraft sensors. This aims to enable the spacecraft to solve problems independently, a capability that was absent in AstroForge's previous missions.
Previous attempts by AstroForge, including the Odin spacecraft launched in 2025, faced significant communication challenges, preventing them from achieving their objectives. The company's co-founder and CEO, Matthew Gialich, highlighted the high cost of building a global ground network as a reason to pursue onboard intelligence. He stated that the goal is not general spacecraft autonomy but a constrained version tailored to specific inputs and tasks.
AstroForge plans to test its "Solo" system in "shadow mode" on its DeepSpace-2 vehicle, scheduled to launch by the end of 2026 alongside an Intuitive Machines mission. The company's first fully autonomous mission, Autonomy-1, is slated for 2027, with Gialich indicating a strong intention to forgo Earth-based radio communication for this mission.