Computer Science

Computer science is woven through every stage of Mars exploration, from the software that flies a spacecraft to the algorithms that sift through the mountains of data a mission returns. Computer scientists develop the programs, artificial intelligence, and data systems that let robotic explorers operate autonomously, that plan and simulate missions, and that transform raw sensor readings into scientific discovery.

Autonomy and data are the field's central contributions to Mars. With commands taking minutes to arrive, rovers rely on sophisticated software to navigate hazards, select scientific targets, and manage their own health — increasingly with the help of machine learning. On the ground, computer scientists build the systems that model missions before they launch, process the vast streams of imagery and telemetry, and help scientists find meaning in data sets far too large to examine by hand. The same skills will be essential for managing the complex, interdependent systems of a future human colony.

Programs in computer science cover algorithms, software engineering, artificial intelligence, and data systems. Graduates contribute to mission software, autonomous navigation, and the data analysis that turns a rover's observations into knowledge about the Red Planet.