Built on the HPE Edgeline Converged Edge system t – purposely engineered for harsh edge environments, the SBC-2 is design to deliver edge computing and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities on the International Space Station (ISS) with additional capabilities to connect Azure workloads to the edge.
“HPE and Microsoft are collaborating to further accelerate space exploration by delivering state-of-the art technologies to tackle a range of data processing needs while in orbit. By bringing together HPE’s Spaceborne Computer-2, which is based on the HPE Edgeline Converged Edge system for advanced edge computing and AI capabilities, with Microsoft Azure to connect to the cloud, we are enabling space explorers to seamlessly transmit large data sets to and from Earth and benefit from an edge-to-cloud experience,” said Dr. Mark Fernandez, Solutions Architect of Converged Edge Systems at HPE and Principal Investigator for Spaceborne Computer-2
As announced, the Microsoft Research and Azure Space engineering teams are currently working on evaluation of the potential of HPE’s space, state-of-the-art processing in conjunction with hyperscale Azure, alongside the development of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning models that will support new insights and research advancements, including weather modeling of dust storms to enable future modeling for Mars missions, plant and hydroponics analysis to support food growth and life sciences in space and medical imaging using an ultrasound on the ISS to support astronaut healthcare.
“Astronauts and space explorers deserve access to the best cloud computing technologies and advanced processing at the ultimate edge. Sometimes analysis needs to be done immediately at the edge where every passing moment counts, and other times the analysis is so massively complex that it can only be performed with the power of the hyperscale cloud,” said Tom Keane Corporate Vice President, Azure Global, Microsoft Azure.
“Microsoft and HPE have established a connection from Spaceborne Computer-2 to Microsoft Azure (through NASA and the HPE ground station) to help tackle these challenges and develop new insights and opportunities.”
According to Microsoft, the HPE’s Spaceborne Computer-2 is scheduled to launch into orbit for the ISS on the 15th Northrop Grumman Resupply Mission to Space Station (NG-15) on the 20th of February.