Spaceborne computing hub speeds time to insights from valuable satellite data

[Nabanita1]

Looking hundreds of miles above the earth, the edge of space may seem like a window into vast emptiness. But it is actually quite crowded. Today, more than 2,500 satellites orbit the earth or are traveling toward other planets. These satellites are used for a wide range of missions such as measuring gases in the atmosphere, monitoring wildfires and volcanoes on earth, collecting data on climate change, tracking the path of asteroids or comets, and even exploring the far reaches of our solar system. This helps scientists understand how Earth was formed.

According to NASA, a single mission creates 150–200 petabytes of data every day. Insights gained from this data can help people on earth address major challenges like water shortages or traffic congestion in big cities. However, the volume of data is so great, there simply isn’t enough bandwidth to transmit everything back to earth for processing. Moreover, that data volume is expected to grow exponentially as additional space programs are launched, like Artemis—NASA’s new lunar exploration program, which plans to land the first woman on the Moon as preparation for future missions to Mars.

OrbitsEdge is solving the expansive data problem with a spaceborne data center that takes supercomputing to the ultimate edge high above the earth’s atmosphere. Sylvia France, president of OrbitsEdge, says, “We’re taking high-performance computing into space, which has never been done before. The idea is to enable organizations like space agencies, pharmaceutical companies, universities, and others to process their data and run their experiments at the source. That way, they only have to transmit the results back to earth. Our solution will save valuable satellite resources and help researchers on earth gain insights dramatically faster.”

At the heart of this spaceborne computing solution is OrbitsEdge’s SatFrame—a rack of computers, similar to those found in any modern data center on earth but modified to withstand the harsh operating conditions in space. For example, the computing equipment requires hardening and radiation shielding, and must be immersed in a liquid-cooled container. To run in space for years with no direct human interaction, the complete solution must also be self-sustaining with things such as solar arrays for power with battery backup, radio and laser communications, and avionics.

In space, the SatFrame serves as a centralized computing hub for processing data fed from multiple other satellites. OrbitsEdge’s customers and partners will be able to use their existing software and IT staff with no need for specialized aerospace skills or experience. By using the high-performance computing services of SatFrame, satellite owners can streamline their development timeframes without the need to build in their own on-board data processing capabilities.

The computing core of the SatFrame is built on HPE Edgeline EL8000 Converged Edge Systems. According to France, OrbitsEdge chose the EL8000 system for its high performance, efficient form factor, hardened design, and built-in security with remote management capabilities. The systems will run on the Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® operating system.

Another key advantage for OrbitsEdge was acquiring the EL8000 systems through the HPE OEM program. As an HPE OEM partner, OrbitsEdge benefits from getting early access to equipment, along with deep expertise from HPE engineers. In fact, OrbitsEdge gained valuable insights from both the HPE Edgeline product team and the HPE spaceborne supercomputing group, which supports the International Space Station.

“From an OEM perspective, HPE has been very open in providing us with engineering support,” France remarks. “HPE came to us with industry-specific expertise that helped us develop a complete solution for the harshest environments. It’s been a very synergistic partnership.”

To learn more, click here

Follow us on Twitter | Join our LinkedIn group | Read OEM Solutions blog on the HPE Community | Register here

Nabanita Maji
Hewlett Packard Enterprise

twitter.com/hpe_partner
LinkedIn/groups/6988995/
hpe.com/us/en/solutions/OEM