A recent study has been exploring the potential of social robots to support the mental health of astronauts in space.
Study: Robots as social companions for space exploration. Image Credit: True Touch Lifestyle/Shutterstock.com
Researchers highlight how isolation and limited social interaction during space missions can pose risks to astronauts' psychological well-being. They propose that social robots could serve as companions, helping astronauts and future space colonists cope with these challenges during both short and long-term missions.
The Mental Health Challenges of Space Travel
Space exploration is advancing rapidly, with goals such as deep-space mining, lunar expeditions, and the potential colonization of Mars. However, space travel presents significant risks to both physical and mental health. While extensive research has focused on physical challenges like space radiation, altered gravity, and muscle atrophy, there is growing awareness of cognitive changes and brain structure alterations caused by extended missions. These include reduced motor connectivity, spatial perception deficits, and neuro-ocular issues.
While countermeasures for physical health risks continue to evolve, mental health remains a largely under-addressed aspect of space travel. Isolation and the lack of social interaction can negatively impact psychological well-being and team dynamics. Existing strategies primarily focus on physical health, leaving a gap in socio-cognitive support. This study aims to fill that gap by proposing social robots as a tool for enhancing astronauts' cognitive and social resilience.
Social Robots as a Solution
Social robots could help mitigate the cognitive and social challenges astronauts face during long-term space missions. Human-robot interactions may help alleviate the limited social diversity within small space crews, particularly when interpersonal dynamics become strained.
One approach involves immersive role-playing technology to simulate social experiences for training and psychological support. While this technology has proven effective on Earth, its reliance on virtual environments could lead to a sense of detachment from reality—an issue that could be particularly problematic in the isolated conditions of space. Integrating role-playing capabilities into physical robots could bridge this gap by combining virtual training with real-world presence.
As interactive role-playing agents, social robots can be programmed with diverse personalities and human-like behaviors. Research on Computers as Social Agents (CASA) suggests that people tend to perceive computers and AI systems as social partners, even when they are fully aware of their artificial nature. This indicates that astronauts could accept social robots as companions in space. However, embodiment—the presence of a physical form—plays a crucial role. A tangible, physical robot enhances communication by enabling non-verbal cues, grounding cognition in the space environment, and supporting multimodal interactions.
While virtual agents can foster social engagement on Earth, the unique demands of space exploration make embodied robots a more effective solution for maintaining astronauts' cognitive and emotional well-being throughout long-duration missions.
The Advantages of Social Robots in Space
Social robots offer several key advantages for space exploration, particularly in long-term missions where isolation and mental health are major concerns.
Unlike on Earth, where robots are often perceived as novelties, space missions already rely heavily on robotic assistance. This makes their integration as social companions more seamless. While most current space robots prioritize functionality over human-like design, future developments could focus more on social interaction if mental health support becomes a priority. Even non-anthropomorphic robots or those with minimal human-like features, such as a voice, can foster social connections, as seen in military and rescue settings.
Another advantage is the dual functionality of social robots. Beyond their operational tasks, they can provide psychological support and social training for astronauts, often without significant additional costs.
Conversely, robots designed primarily for companionship could also be equipped to contribute to mission tasks. Their physical presence allows for real-time monitoring of crew well-being, potentially intervening in mental health crises. However, this raises ethical concerns regarding privacy and autonomy, which would need to be carefully addressed.
From a practical standpoint, social robots appear highly feasible for space missions. Advances in AI and chatbot systems suggest that integrating social capabilities into robots is increasingly viable. Unlike human crew members, robots require no food or water and can operate on alternative power sources. However, maintenance remains a challenge—technical failures could jeopardize mission operations and crew morale, especially if astronauts develop emotional attachments to their robotic companions.
Conclusion
Social robots present a compelling solution to the mental health challenges astronauts face on long-duration space missions. By serving as social companions, fostering team cohesion, and enhancing cognitive resilience, they could become more than just tools—they might evolve into valued partners in space exploration. Their physical presence allows for more natural human-like interactions, helping astronauts maintain a sense of connection in isolated environments.
As research progresses, social robots could play a significant role not only in space missions but also in broader societal applications, reshaping the way humans interact with artificial social agents in extreme and everyday environments alike.
Journal Reference
Guitton, M. J. (2025). Robots as social companions for space exploration. Computers in Human Behavior Artificial Humans, 100124. DOI:10.1016/j.chbah.2025.100124 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882125000088?dgcid=api_sd_search-api-endpoint
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