NASA’s Parker Solar Probe soared closer to the Sun than any human-made object before, carrying out its pre-programmed tasks on Christmas Eve without communication from Earth. Researchers sent this pioneering spacecraft through the Sun’s atmosphere to investigate the mechanisms that drive solar weather, hoping to understand better how the resulting solar wind and radiation might affect terrestrial conditions. During its flyby, the spacecraft faced extreme heat surpassing 1000°C, underscoring the formidable hurdles encountered when studying our star.
Although journalists and enthusiasts described this feat as a landmark achievement, the autonomy displayed raises questions about the role of humans in space exploration. The growing prowess of robotics and artificial intelligence, as highlighted by prominent scientists, creates uncertainty over whether human astronauts remain indispensable. Lord Martin Rees, the UK’s Astronomer Royal, argues that taxpayers should not bear the financial burden of sending humans on risky ventures into space, while Andrew Coates, a physicist at University College London, prefers robotic missions for serious exploration. Yet proponents of human exploration note that people offer versatility and intuitive problem-solving skills.
Some experts envisage a future where humans and robots operate together. Complex humanoid robots such as NASA’s Valkyrie illustrate the potential to carry out repetitive maintenance tasks, freeing astronauts to focus on more critical work. Nasa’s Robonaut also showed that androids can replace humans in space habitats when necessary. Nevertheless, many scientists highlight that it remains unclear whether robots or AI can replicate the spontaneity and adaptability of human astronauts.
While robotics can gather data from places that humans cannot easily reach, the idea of a person setting foot on Mars continues to inspire. Robots dutifully pursue scientific discovery, but astronauts capture the public imagination in a way that machines cannot. The success of missions like the Parker Solar Probe suggests a future of collaborative exploration, where humans and robots each play essential roles in reaching beyond Earth’s horizon.
References
NASA. (2021, December 14). Parker Solar Probe touches the Sun for the first time. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/parker-solar-probe
Rees, M. (2018). On the future: Prospects for humanity. Princeton University Press.
