One paradox of contemporary space exploration is that while we build ever more advanced robots and autonomous systems, the human role has not become obsolete — in some respects it has grown more important. Dr. Schlégl Ádám, an astronaut candidate, argues that today’s astronauts are less defined by pilot or engineer labels and more by adaptability: they must be generalists capable of handling technical, scientific, medical and psychological challenges.
Aczél Petra, communication researcher and professor at Széchenyi István University, is a regular expert guest on the related podcast. The discussion appears in an episode of the podcast "A nagy AI-sztori."
What has changed in space travel?
During the early space race, most astronauts were essentially elite test pilots: technical and flight skills were paramount because the technology was extremely hazardous. Over recent decades, flight systems have become largely automated and many critical decisions are already supported by computer systems. In some modern capsules — for example, in a Crew Dragon — human intervention is often a last-resort measure.
This technological shift has changed the profile of candidates sought by space programs: adaptability, psychological suitability and teamwork have become defining criteria.
Selection and psychological suitability
Dr. Schlégl Ádám emphasized that psychological fitness has gained importance: a key question is how someone reacts to complete isolation, extreme stress, confined spaces and constant pressure. An orbital station is much more like a closed submarine than the romantic image many people associate with space travel.
Consequently, the selection process involves multiple psychological screenings, and candidates often do not know exactly which trials determined whether they advanced or were eliminated.
Training and isolation exercises
One of the toughest parts of the training was an isolation exercise: five people were confined together in a container-sized space, completely cut off from the outside world. They did not know how long they would remain inside, had no internet access, and their sleep time was gradually reduced. The aim was not only to measure physical and mental endurance but also to observe how they interacted under extreme pressure — whether aggression or conflict appeared, or whether the team fell apart.
According to Dr. Schlégl Ádám, the most important takeaway was that despite competitive elements, the participants consistently supported each other.
The role of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is now an indispensable part of modern spacecraft: such systems process data from thousands of sensors simultaneously, which a human cannot track in real time. AI functions as a decision-support system: it monitors subtle deviations, can predict faults, and in some situations reacts faster than a human.
This is especially critical for missions to Mars: while communication delay to the Moon is a few seconds, the one-way delay to Mars can be 20–25 minutes. That makes it difficult or practically impossible for ground control to make every critical decision in real time. For a Mars landing, autonomous systems must independently recognize terrain conditions, evaluate hazards and decide whether a chosen landing site is safe — tasks impossible for humans under such communication delays.
The future astronaut: a Swiss Army knife
For these reasons, a modern astronaut must not be a specialist in only one field. They must simultaneously understand technology, medical care, scientific research, survival skills, communication and teamwork. Dr. Schlégl Ádám describes the modern astronaut as a Swiss Army knife: multifunctional, adaptable and capable of working with machines without relying on them completely.
This shift also reflects a broader technological trend: the future favors people who can work across domains and collaborate effectively with AI, rather than purely super-specialized experts.
Podcast timestamps and topics
- How did Schlégl Ádám join the Hunor program? (01:56)
- Why did psychological suitability become more important than technical knowledge? (05:40)
- How does AI assist space missions and simulations? (11:14)
- What did he learn about himself during training? (18:14)
- How does AI appear across almost every area of the space industry? (27:26)
- Why is autonomous AI indispensable for a Mars mission? (28:52)
- Why is the modern astronaut a Swiss Army knife? (39:39)
The full episode of the podcast is available for listening.
