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--Photo CCTV |
China’s space station sees first application of large AI model in astronaut operations
(Global Times/BRNN) -- China has applied a professional large AI model for the first time aboard its space station, where it assisted in preparations for astronauts’ extravehicular activities and provided intelligent, specialised support for their in-orbit work, CCTV News reported.
The AI system, known as “Wukong AI,” was carried to orbit by the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft. Developed on the basis of domestic open-source models, it integrates the requirements of crewed spaceflight missions and combines pre-training with instruction fine-tuning to build a domain-specific large AI model and a knowledge base centered on spaceflight standards, according to CCTV News.
Zou Pengfei of the China Astronaut Research and Training Centre told CCTV News that astronauts could “ask Wukong AI what tasks they have today, and during their work they may inquire about guideline- or explanation-type knowledge.” The system’s role, he explained, is to provide astronauts with direct, tailored information on demand.
CCTV News reported that the model is part of an intelligent ground-orbit Q&A support system, with one model operating on Earth and another on orbit. Together, they deliver in-depth analysis of professional knowledge and help resolve challenging issues in real time.
“Wukong AI provides rapid and effective information support for astronauts’ complex in-orbit operations and emergency troubleshooting,” Zou was quoted as saying. “It helps them carry out tasks more efficiently, enriches their psychological support in orbit, and enhances coordination between ground and space.”
Designed to address the complexity, diversity and vast data demands of crewed space missions, the model also employs scenario-based data processing to ensure quick responses and accurate, rigorous answers. It can later be expanded to cover mission planning, data analysis, and intelligent forecasting. After one month of stable in-orbit operation, astronauts reported positive feedback, marking a significant step forward in the intelligent application of China’s space station, CCTV News said.
On Friday, The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China’s orbiting space station completed their mission’s third series of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency, Xinhua News Agency reported. The astronaut trio - Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie - worked for approximately six-and-a-half hours and completed all related tasks at 10:47 pm (Beijing Time), assisted by the space station’s robotic arm and a ground control team.
(Latest Update August 18, 2025) |