Axiom Space intends to send a shoebox sized node running Red Hat Device Edge (ISS) to the International Space Station.
Axiom Space’s Data Center Unit-1 – click to enlarge.
Axiom Space’s Data Center Unit-1 –Credit: Axiom Space () – Click to enlarge.
Axiom Space’s Data Center Unit-1 is a prototype processing unit that will be used for testing aboard the ISS, and demonstrating initial Or
For something that looks like a glorified box, it sounds grand. HPE has sent a series of Spaceborne supercomputers up to the space over the years in order to test their storage, recovery and operational capabilities on long-duration flights. The European Space Agency (ESA), on the other hand, has been running Raspberry Pi computers for years on the ISS as part of its AstroPi education outreach program. AxDCU-1 fits between the two
. Axiom Space stated: “The prototype will test applications in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning(AI/ML), data fusion and space cybersecurity.”
Space provides an ideal environment for edge-devices. The connectivity to datacenters in Earth is severely limited, so the more processing can be done prior to data being transmitted to a terrestrial receiver station, the better.Tony James is chief architect for Science and Space at Red Hat.
Red Hat software is also used in the much beefier Spaceborne Computer. The Red Hat Device Edge used by Axiom’s device combines Red Hat Enterprise Linux with the Red Hat Ansible Platform and MicroShift – a lightweight Kubernetes Container Orchestration Service derived from Red Hat OpenShift. Axiom’s Space will host hybrid cloud workloads and cloud-native applications on-orbit.
Jason Aspiotis is the global director of Axiom’s in-space data and cybersecurity. He told The Register that the hardware was a commercially available unit designed to operate in harsh environments. He added that it will be integrated with the ISS as any other hosted payload.
As far as device access is concerned, Aspiotis stated that “AxDCU-1 can be controlled and used via ground-to space or space-tospace communications links.”
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“Our current plans are to maintain this device on the ISS. We plan to utilize this asset for at least two years.”
Axiom was unable to share any concrete information about This could be due to the damage that the shipping container containing the Cygnus Cargo module for Northrop Grumman’s next ISS resupply mission in June sustained.
NASA decided to change the cargo manifest of April’s Dragon mission in order to include more consumables. (r)
