NASA's fleet of robotic spacecraft has generated volumes of data about the solar system over the past 40 years. Yet, for all the insights these unmanned missions have provided, the spacecrafts are pretty dumb. A recent experiment, though, could make the next generation of planetary explorers smarter, more versatile and less expensive.

Unmanned spacecraft typically require significant handholding from mission control. A series of detailed, low-level commands are created on the ground and sent to the craft, telling it precisely what to do and when to do it. Most spacecraft also have a limited ability to deal with problems; when computers notice a problem with a key system, they shut down nonessential systems and wait for instructions from Earth.