Red Hat, Inc., a global leader in open-source solutions, and Axiom Space, a pioneering company in space infrastructure, have announced their collaboration on the development of the Axiom Space’s Data Center Unit-1 (AxDCU-1). This innovative data processing prototype will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) in spring 2025, with the goal of testing the initial capabilities of what will become the Orbital Data Center (ODC).
The AxDCU-1 will utilize Red Hat Device Edge, a technological solution that will enable testing in a microgravity environment, covering applications in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML), data fusion, and space cybersecurity.
An advancement in space data processing infrastructure
The ODCs from Axiom Space are designed to provide data processing and storage in orbit, reducing dependence on terrestrial data centers and intermittent, costly, or interference-prone network connections. With this architecture, data can be processed directly in space rather than sent to Earth for analysis.
This advancement represents a transformation in how data is managed in space, benefiting multiple applications, such as:
- Processing and storing data from Earth observation satellites, with reduced latency and faster decision-making.
- Training AI/ML models in orbit, optimizing analysis and autonomy for space missions.
- Improvements in space cybersecurity, with multifactor authentication and intrusion detection and response.
- Real-time weather analysis, crucial for scientific missions and space operations.
- Backup and disaster recovery, providing a data safeguarding alternative for critical infrastructure on Earth.
The technology behind the AxDCU-1
Red Hat Device Edge will serve as the foundation for the AxDCU-1, integrating a combination of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, and MicroShift, a lightweight version of Kubernetes optimized for edge environments. This infrastructure will enable the execution of cloud-native workloads in a space environment, enhancing real-time processing capabilities and ensuring greater reliability in application execution.
The development of the Orbital Data Center reinforces Axiom Space’s goal of bringing space closer to industries that previously did not consider its use. From the development of the Axiom Station, which will become the first commercial space station, to the creation of scalable technology infrastructure in orbit, the company is continuously building the necessary framework for living and working in space, with direct benefits for Earth.
The launch of the AxDCU-1 in 2025 marks a key milestone in space computing, heralding a new era in which cloud and advanced data processing transcend the boundaries of our planet.