- Axiom space and red hat implemented Axdcu-1 Prototype Data Center for ISS
- System uses Microshift Kubernetes, Delta updates and self-healing to orbital conditions
- Researchers expect local data processing on ISS to accelerate experiments
A Prototype Data Center has arrived at International Space Station (ISS) to test whether earth -based computer systems can work in orbit.
The device, called AXDCU-1, was developed by Axiom Space and runs Red Hat’s Device Edge platform. It was delivered aboard SpaceXs 33. Commercial Delivery Mission on August 24th. The project that we previously wrote about was sponsored by ISS National Laboratory.
The goal is to see if data can be processed directly in orbit rather than sent back to Earth through limited satellite -downlinks.
Data processing in space
The system runs contained applications that are similar to those in modern data centers, but adapted to orbital conditions where connection is poor and hardware must work independently.
It is built around a lightweight version of Kubernetes called Microshift, designed for resource -limited environments, which allows you to update container loads and be controlled externally.
“The platform contains automated rollbacks and self -healing capabilities through delta updates and health surveillance,” Tony James, Chief Architect of Science and Space, told Red Hat, told Knowledge of data center.
Delta -software updates transmit only changed parts of code to minimize bandwidth use.
“These features are especially critical in space as they serve as a protection to allow the system to detect errors and return to a stable state without human intervention,” James added.
Patrick O’Neill from ISS National Laboratory, bandwidth restrictions have long been a problem for researchers. “Over the years was a limiting resource for the research community at the space station transfer of data and near real -time data analysis,” he said.
Treatment of data locally could let researchers adjust experiments while still running, with special benefits expected in life sciences and biomedical research.
The implementation also serves as a test bed for future commercial space stations.
Axiom Space builds its own station, which needs more advanced data processing than ISS currently provides.
The container approach is intended to support Kant AI, automation and mission -critical applications in future orbital platforms.
Axiom is not the only startup that sends data centers into space. Lonestar Data Holdings successfully tested a software -finished data center on ISS in 2021 and 2022, before performing a full data storage demonstration from the Moon’s surface in 2024.
