HPE & NASA accelerates Space Exploration With The HPE Spaceborne Computer

[Paul_Santilli]

Over the years, scientists have felt the need for a more reliable computing capabilities on the ISS, or low Earth orbit (LEO). This was, earlier, impossible to achieve due to the ISS’s harsh environment of zero gravity and high levels of radiation that could damage IT equipment required to host computing technologies. However, HPE and NASA's new collaboration will now make this possible. This partnership aims to test if affordable, off the shelf servers could withstand the harsh conditions of space and provide reliable computing aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

HPE and NASA, together, has put a commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) supercomputer aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to prove the technology's ability to operate in the harsh conditions of space while performing data center-level compute processing at the edge.

Additionally, gaining more reliable computing on the ISS is just the first step in NASA’s goals for supporting human space travel to the Moon, Mars and beyond where reliable communications is a mission critical need.

Spaceborne Computer-2 & its capabilities:

The Spaceborne Computer-2 offers twice as much compute speed with purpose-built edge computing capabilities powered by the HPE Edgeline Converged Edge system and HPE ProLiant server to ingest and process data from a range of devices, including satellites and cameras, and process in real-time. It is further equipped with graphic processing units (GPUs) to efficiently process image-intensive data requiring higher image resolution such as shots of polar ice caps on earth or medical x-rays. The GPU capabilities will also support specific projects using AI and machine learning techniques.

The combined advancements of Spaceborne Computer-2 enable astronauts to eliminate longer latency and wait times associated with sending data to-and-from earth to tackle research and gain insights immediately for a range of projects. According to Mark Fernandez, HPE’s principal investigator for the project, “The most important benefit to delivering reliable in-space computing with Spaceborne Computer-2 is making real-time insights a reality. Space explorers can now transform how they conduct research based on readily available data and improve decision-making".

Spaceborne Computer-2 introduced at Space Symposium 2021:

Spaceborne Computer-2 made a mark at the Space Symposium- the world’s biggest & most-awaited Space event, held between August 23rd to 26th in Colorado Springs, Colorado. To read more, click here

Check out some of the latest Space Symposium blogs:

• Space Symposium 2021: Check out the major highlights!
• The countdown starts! Are you excited for the 36th Space Symposium Event?

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Paul Santilli
Hewlett Packard Enterprise

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