Space and AI: A Collision of Challenges

Space is one of the most exciting and innovative industries out there. But it also has some big problems to solve, especially when it comes to software and artificial intelligence (AI). In this blog, we look at some of the challenges that the space sector faces as it tries to use AI more effectively.

The UK Space Agency did a survey in 2023 and found out that software and data skills are the most wanted and the hardest to find in the space sector.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1184391/Space_Sector_Skills_Survey_2023_final2.pdf

To leverage AI you need foundation skills including other areas we see on the list, like software engineering, data analysis and modelling, AI and machine learning, and cyber security. Almost three-quarters of the space organisations said they have a gap in these skills right now, and more than 80% said they will need them in three years.

· 70% of them said they can’t find enough people who know how to use AI and machine learning.

The survey also showed that the space sector has a lot of competition from other sectors and other space companies for these skills. And the pay is not very good either. Many people who work in the space sector said that AI and machine learning are very important for their work, but it’s very hard to keep or hire people who have these skills.

So what can the space sector do to fix this problem? The survey gave some ideas, like:

·      Investing more in training, upskilling, and reskilling the current workforce

·      Working more with schools and universities to get more young people interested in space and AI. – do we really need to get people interested in Space?

·      Collaborating more with other sectors to learn from their experiences and best practices in using software and AI

The UK Space Agency, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Space Partnership are working together to make a plan based on these ideas. The plan will be ready in 2024 The goal is to make sure that the UK space sector has a skilled, diverse, and sustainable workforce that can keep exploring and innovating in space.

What help does your company need to leverage AI?

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