Science & Tech · Space · 8 hrs ago
Google and NASA are developing a medical assistant robot for space missions
Google and NASA are developing a robot to assist astronauts during future deep-space missions.
The project brings together Google Cloud and several NASA teams, including its Human Research Program and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
It builds on a digital medical assistant the partners have been evaluating since 2025.
Long communication delays could make onboard medical help vital: a Mars mission could face up to 44 minutes for a message to travel to Earth and back.
The robot could fetch and prepare equipment, such as an ultrasound, while a crew medical officer makes decisions about diagnosis and treatment.
Early tests showed an 85% success rate at finding and moving a medical bag, but the work is still a proof of concept and does not show that the robot can handle medical procedures.
The team plans further testing, while the robot is also intended to help with cargo, supplies and routine maintenance.
Google and NASA are developing an experimental robot to help astronauts with medical support and routine tasks on future deep-space missions.
The robot is intended to assist onboard medical personnel, not replace them or make medical decisions.
It could retrieve and prepare equipment, including ultrasound gear, while a human medical officer examines results.
The project also aims to let the robot handle cargo, organize tools, secure compartments and support maintenance.
Laboratory tests have shown progress in basic retrieval tasks, but the system is not ready for autonomous medical procedures.
- Who
- Google and NASA, working with Google Cloud, NASA’s Human Research Program, Johnson Space Center’s robotics team and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
- What
- They are developing an experimental robot to assist astronauts with medical and routine tasks.
- When
- The project is under development; Google and NASA have been evaluating an earlier AI medical support system since 2025.
- Where
- For use on future deep-space missions.
- Why
- Communication delays could make immediate help from Earth difficult during medical emergencies.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Google and NASA have been evaluating the Crew Medical Officer Digital Assistant, an AI medical support system.
The robot achieved an 85% success rate at locating and moving a medical bag.
- Success rate
- 85% at locating and moving a medical bag in initial laboratory trials
- Communication delay
- Up to 44 minutes round trip on a future Mars mission, according to Jim Kelly
- Earlier system
- Crew Medical Officer Digital Assistant
- Human oversight
- Medical diagnosis and treatment decisions remain under human supervision
What people are saying
An astronaut on a future deep space mission to Mars could face severe operational challenges, including round-trip communication latencies of up to 44 minutes.
To maximize its utility for a lean crew, the robotic system is designed as a versatile 'payload' handler capable of managing cargo, logistics, and equipment
When not needed for routine maintenance like organizing tools or securing compartments, it can pivot to medical support.
The ultimate goal is to build a robotic system that can execute a variety of tasks via simple voice instructions, under the astronauts’ direct supervision and command