The future Kepler network (Axiom Space source)
Axiom Space will send until the end of this year to the low orbit of the Earth two satellites that will function as databases, being the first step for developing a computing infrastructure outside the Earth's surface, writes space.com.
The two satellites will “inaugurate” the future “constellation” of optical communications of the Canadian company Kepler Communications. Launch should take place at the end of the year.
Before orbital data centers become very numerous is an essential condition: technology must prove that it can withstand the hard conditions in space, especially in the face of powerful radiation that often decreases the lifespan of electronic devices.
“The orbital data centers will provide storage and processing of secure data, scalable and compatible with cloud technologies, as well as artificial intelligence and auto -learning solutions directly to satellites and other spatial probes on Earth's orbit, having the ability to function independently of earthly infrastructure,” say Axiom.
Currently, satellites must send images to earth for processing, which creates delays. The analysis of the data directly on the orbit will hurry, and the transmission tape will be better used. Eliminating the need to download data into widespread terrestrial stations will also reduce security risks, such as interception of data by hostile state actors.
Axiom Space had announced in 2023 the plans to install an orbital data center on its future space station, whose launch is scheduled for 2027. Now, the company has presented the calendar for a distributed orbital calculation infrastructure, which will use Kepler Communications satellites to move the processing power.
