The thin line between science fiction and reality is soon going to vanish with robots completely powered with AI, ready to explore the outer space. SpaceX, the popular space transportation company, has sent a robot CIMON (stands for Crew Interactive Mobile Companion) to the International Space Station(ISS) of NASA today. The robot is supposed to assist the astronauts in their experiments.

Trained by Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency, it was designed by Airbus in collaboration with IBM. It has been trained several times on Earth to adapt to the outer space environment. Powered with voice-assisted AI, CIMON can even remember and identify astronauts in the space station.

CIMON was part of SpaceX’s ’s Dragon, a spacecraft for conducting experiments related to cellular biology, Earth science and AI. Dragon lifted off on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida with more than 5,900 pounds of research, equipment, cargo and supplies that will support dozens of investigations aboard the space station.

Faclon 9 also bears an earth science instrument called ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) to measure and check how plants respond to the water availability in the outer space.

With the success of CIMON in space, SpaceX’s voyage will definitely witness a big step-up in its advancements in AI.This will also boost robotic exploration in the expanding universe.