Google and NASA are developing a robot to assist astronauts medically
Deep-space communication delays could make onboard medical assistance essential during emergencies
NASA’s robotic assistant could retrieve ultrasound equipment for astronauts experiencing severe pain
Google is developing a robotic medical assistant with NASA to help astronauts handle health emergencies and routine duties during future deep-space expeditions. The system is intended to support onboard medical personnel while also performing maintenance, moving equipment, and managing supplies when medical assistance is unnecessary. The project remains experimental, with laboratory testing indicating progress in basic robotic tasks rather than readiness for autonomous medical procedures. A robotic assistant for astronauts far from Earth
The project brings together Google Cloud, NASA’s Human Research Program, Johnson Space Center’s robotics team, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to develop robotic assistance for spaceflight. The work builds on the Crew Medical Officer Digital Assistant, an AI medical support system that Google and NASA have been evaluating since 2025. That earlier system is designed to help astronauts assess health problems when distance and communication delays make immediate consultation with Earth-based doctors difficult. “An astronaut on a future deep space mission to Mars could face severe operational challenges, including round-trip communication latencies of up to 44 minutes,” said Jim Kelly, Google’s public sector vice president. Such delays could complicate medical decisions during emergencies, making onboard resources increasingly important when astronauts cannot receive immediate instructions from mission control. Rather than replacing the crew’s medical officer, the robot would assist with practical tasks, leaving diagnosis and treatment decisions under human supervision. For example, an astronaut experiencing intense back pain possibly associated with kidney stones could request an ultrasound examination using equipment retrieved and prepared by the robot…