Today, SpaceX will be launching its next Cargo mission to make its way to the International Space Station. This Cargo mission will be number 15th for SpaceX. It will be sending about six thousand pounds of supplies on the top of Falcon 9 rocket.

The vehicle is equipped with the food and water for the six astronauts living there in the International Space Station. Besides, it is accompanied by new scientific experiments and technologies which will be worked out in the microgravity. And above everything, the Cargo Mission will include the first-ever robotic crew member based on Artificial Intelligence.

The AI-powered robotic crew member is named as CIMON. CIMON stands for Crew Interactive Mobile Companion. It resembles a volleyball in its outer appearance with a computer screen affixed on one side. The screen is designed to display a carton face. The BOT will use it for their interaction with the six astronauts present at the International Space Station. To move around, the CIMON has fourteen internal fans. These fans will be propelling the white ball. CIMON will suck station’s air and expel it accordingly in the direction where it needs to move. This movement of CIMON exhibits its property to move throughout the International Space Station. Not only shall it move, but it is also said that CIMON would be nodding its head to respond to the astronomer’s questions.

Airbus developed CIMON for Germany’s National Space Agency. The primary motive behind sending this first AI-powered robot in space is to find whether the robot is helpful to the astronauts for simplifying their space work life or not. Before this, CIMON has undergone testing on a parabolic flight. Parabolic Flight is an airplane meant for flying a particular trajectory for creating the moments of weightlessness. Also, CIMON has undergone training under Alexander Gerst here on the Earth. Alexander Gerst is a German astronaut working at the International Space Station.