Humanoid Space Age
The new space age is nothing like the last
For millennia space was an unreachable realm, until the mightiest nations chose to brave its borders. Frenetic activity ensued as the US and Soviets raced to put people in orbit then onto the moon. Politics, cost and technical difficulties effectively ended the first space age – it was gone but not forgotten.
Pendulum Swings
Humans proved the most effective way to explore this new realm, for example NASA astronauts returned 382 kg of moon rocks and regolith compared to 0.226 kg returned by soviet robots. Notably the samples collected by astronauts were more varied and higher quality, particularly when Jack Schmitt, a professional geologist, was selected for the Apollo 17 mission. Unfortunately the race to the moon ended as quickly as it started, which led to far more conservative space exploration, principally by space telescopes, probes and robotic landers.
Now the pendulum has begun to swing the other way, with space access becoming progressively less expensive, largely thanks to SpaceX. They fund their own development, so immune to the vagaries of congress, and embrace technical difficulties, because they signpost how best to improve the technology. SpaceX believe Super Heavy Lift (SHL) vehicles are the most practical way to access space and journey to new worlds. This has culminated in the development of Starship, which can deliver 15 times the mass of the Saturn V moon rocket (200+ tons landed mass for Starship vs 14 tons for Saturn V). Starship will enable a shift to human-centric space exploration, although SpaceX envision a more commercial approach, hence the second space age will be nothing like the first.
Humanoid Space
Robotic rovers tend to be custom made, hence extremely expensive to build and operate in alien environments. However, increased landing mass will allow both humans and androids to be sent together and work alongside one another. More importantly all the support equipment (e.g. surface vehicles, science instruments, construction machinery etc) can be bought off-the-shelf, with limited adaptation for different work environments. Anything designed for use by humans can be operated by humanoid robots, eliminating the need for exquisite equipment.
In addition, androids and people have complementary qualities e.g: humans are ideal for design, troubleshooting and supervisory roles, whereas repetitive work is best left to androids, particularly when carried out in high vacuum/hazardous conditions. Overall the efficiencies engendered by this human-android alliance will allow far more to be accomplished for far less cost, making it the ideal model for future space development.
Way Forward
Humans are the most adaptable species on Earth hence able to work in most environments, given the necessary tools and protective clothing. However, robots have limited intelligence hence need considerable experience to operate in new environments, at least with any degree of efficiency or safety.
“Starship will hopefully depart for Mars at the end of next year with Optimus explorer robots!” ~ Elon Musk/X
Tesla’s Optimus uses the same neural processor as their Electric Vehicles (EVs), hence SpaceX will use these robot explorers to collect data about how to operate on Mars (similar to the way Tesla collect data from their EVs to construct their Full Self Driving software). Mars has 38% of Earth’s gravity, 0.6% of sea level air pressure, and covered in ultra-fine dust, all of which will affect how Optimus operates. Hopefully SpaceX can accumulate sufficient data to adapt Optimus’ operating system in time for human landings during the following Mars synod.
Software is the key to robot utility. If Optimus robots have to be teleoperated their benefit will be limited but if they incorporate Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) that will unlock untold human/android synergies. Creating true AGI will require huge compute power, something certainly possessed by the Colossus Supercomputer, operated by xAI.
The ideal model for constructing a Mars city would involve Optimus robots working around the clock, perhaps with a one hour break for automated maintenance while docked to a charging station. This would allow human colonists to fill a more executive role and concentrate on less routine activities such as surveying, troubleshooting and tech development – the perfect partnership.
Science Realignment
As humanoid space exploration reaches new heights, space science should see a similar renaissance. Future science programs will more closely align with the human space effort (similar to the 1960s) and the rising tide of humanoid space exploration will require greater science support. For example: instead of mounting a Mars sample return mission to study a few grams of regolith on Earth, a new breed of explorer scientists will journey to the moon and Mars, accompanied by portable laboratories. This will allow results to be generated where most needed i.e. the emerging frontier, and remove layers of stifling bureaucracy, regulations and Earth politics.
“A ~50% reduction to NASA’s science budget does not appear to be an optimal outcome.” ~ Jared Isaacman, nominee NASA Administrator
No doubt Jared is aware of the many changes needed, and intends to defend the relevant areas of NASA’s science budget during this period of realignment. He has hands on experience with space science, during the Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn private space missions, where they performed experiments to assist Starship development. Instead of wandering in the wilderness, space science will become more coherent and find new purpose in the coming years.
Commercial Science
Commercial science missions by Jared Isaacman, commercial space stations to replace the ISS and SpaceX’s shadow Mars program all point the way to our space future.
“With a LOT of work and good ideas, I think it [Tesla] could exceed the value of all transport companies, excluding SpaceX” ~ Elon Musk/X
Currently SpaceX’s growth appears exponential, due to its unrivaled technology, like reusable rockets and spacecraft, Starlink/Starshield constellations and the mighty Starship. As they continue to grow this should supply the massive financial and technical resources required to establish settlements on the moon and Mars, with some support from government. While NASA will participate in missions to these new worlds, the sustained settlements will be built by companies like SpaceX. Then they will go it alone to open new destinations in the asteroid belt and outer solar system to maintain growth. This will allow NASA to go back to its roots and focus on space science, and eventually go much farther...
In Conclusion
The approaching humanoid space age will bring space exploration into the mainstream, and allow far more to be accomplished. Previous obstacles such as high cost, technical difficulty and excessive politics will be overcome through a more efficient commercial approach.
Space science may seem to falter in the early years of this new age but it’s merely the calm before the storm that will accompany humanoid space missions. No doubt they will have to invent a more prestigious award to reflect the significant contribution and sacrifice of this new brand of pioneer scientists.