There are 4 types of unmanned space craft that are used to collect data: flybys, orbiters, landers, and sample return mission spacecraft. Flybys simply pass by a celestially object, and are generally the cheapest as they usually require no fuel propulsion after leaving Earth’s orbit. Flybys mostly observe through the use of telescopes and other instruments. Orbiters are similar to Flyby’s but enter a planet’s orbit and remain there. Landers do what the name suggest, land and could traverse a planet’s surface with a rover. Sample return mission craft land on a celestial object, and send back physical samples to be studied on Earth, and very few of these are ever used as they can be very expensive.
The most intimate of these exploration craft are the landers, as they make physical contact with a celestial body and can get up close and personal with it. One problem that may be obvious to any avid astronomer is the radio signal delay between pretty much any celestial body and Earth. Remote controlling a moving rover is impractical due to this delay, and Land Rovers most commonly rely on automated AI programs to control the movement path and action of these rovers. It should be noted that AI refers to a computer program that takes input and makes decisions based off of it, and it is not necessarily a free thinking mind.
However, we are nearing closer and closer to AI that can for all intents and purposely replicate human decision making, and in the future when we accomplish this, a whole new world of space exploration and colonization could be possible.
Instead of astronauts risking their lives and having to be equipped to insure their human survival needs are met, automated robots could be used, with the only risk being losing what ever funding was used if the robot astronaut was lost.
Additionally, while humans must make the best of what they can do, AI robots can be built from scratch to be the most efficient and effective astronauts possible, without the need for oxygen, sleep, water, food, or a hospitable atmosphere. It should be noted that obviously robots will require power, however power can be easier made sustainable than food or water.
AI could allow taking much greater risks without worrying about carelessly throwing away human lives, which could accelerate space exploration and colonization.
It may not be many years before AI technologically allows the possibility of hospitalizing a celestial body such as the moon or mars, setting up bases, farms, living areas, communication, transportation, and much more without a human astronaut ever having to set foot until the environment is completely prepared for them to arrive on a red carpet, welcomed by a host of artificial intelligence robotic space crew.
Sources: ESA – Artificial Intelligence in Space , Five ways artificial intelligence can help space exploration
Johann's Astronomy Blog 