Red Hat, part of IBM, and Axiom Space are collaborating to send an orbital data center to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025.
The system, named AxDCU-1, will be used to test artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud computing in space, aiming to provide secure and low-latency data processing beyond Earth.
Computing Beyond Earth
Space is quickly becoming a new testing ground for data centers. Recently, Lonestar announced plans to deploy the first physical data center on the Moon, powered by RISC-V processors, Phison SSDs, and Ubuntu OS, following a successful trial of a software-defined data center on the ISS.
Now, IBM Red Hat and Axiom Space are developing AxDCU-1, set for launch in spring 2025. The prototype will use Red Hat Device Edge, an enterprise version of MicroShift (a lightweight Kubernetes distribution derived from Red Hat OpenShift), along with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and the Red Hat Ansible automation platform.
AxDCU-1 will test cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data fusion, and cybersecurity applications in space while demonstrating the capabilities of Orbital Data Centers (ODC).
Processing Data Beyond Earth
“Processing data outside our planet is the next evolutionary step, and edge computing is a fundamental part of it”,said Tony James, chief architect for Science and Space at Red Hat. “With Red Hat Device Edge and our collaboration with Axiom Space, mission partners will be able to make real-time decisions in space with greater reliability and consistency”.
The project is part of Axiom Space’s broader vision for advanced space infrastructure. It will allow data processing closer to sources like satellites and spacecraft, enhancing security and decision-making speed for space operations.
Jason Aspiotis, global director of in-space data and security at Axiom Space, highlighted the significance of the initiative:
“Integrating terrestrial-grade cloud solutions into Orbital Data Centers will enable users to move and optimize workloads in orbit, benefiting from lower latency and enhanced security”.
According to Axiom Space, ODCs could be used for satellite data processing, AI/ML training, cybersecurity, space autonomy, space weather analysis, and off-planet backups for Earth’s critical infrastructure.
