The Space Between Spaces

The future of AI will come from clothes we wear in the heavens.

- GS Jackson

“The spacesuit is currently NASA’s oldest running spacecraft,” offers Paromita Mitra, a human interface engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Mitra is not just offering a catchy piece of space trivia. She is part of the team at NASA who is working on the informatics subsystem for its next-generation spacesuit. More specifically, her team is designing the digital head-up display (HUD) much like the helmet that Tony Stark wears in his Avenger’s Iron Man suit. The suit and informatics subsystem contained within will be destined for the lunar surface and eventually the surface of Mars.

AI embedded within informatics could be the difference between life and death for future astronauts. When conducting an extravehicular activity (EVA), spacewalk or surface exploration mission, astronauts are required to work within the extreme environment that is human space exploration. As an aid, the informatics subsystem develops tools (like future HUDs) which help the astronaut in decision-making, task planning, navigation and science—in hopes to make the astronaut more efficient and effective.

Mitra has a bachelor’s and master’s in aerospace engineering and her expertise lies in displays and controls, augmented reality optics, human systems integration, and conversely, competing in the Miss USA pageant.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Mitra represented the magnolia state of Mississippi in the 2013 Miss USA competition, grew up as an immigrant in south Mississippi and has two degrees in rocket science.

So she understands what it takes to survive extreme environments and adversity.