Microsoft has teamed up with Elon Musk’s Space X in taking the next giant leap for mankind. This time it’s in cloud computing, in space. The tech giant is collaborating with Space X to launch Azure Space. The cloud computing platform Azure intends to offer mobile cloud computing data centers that can deploy anywhere around the world.
In order to make this endeavor a success, Microsoft called upon SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites and extended its agreement with satellite company SES for Azure Space. Microsoft put together a team of respected space industry veterans to work in conjunction with their own product engineers to build cloud capabilities that meet the basic demands of space. By partnering with leaders in the space community, Microsoft seeks to expand the utility of our Azure capabilities with worldwide satellite connectivity, release cloud computing in more settings, and ultimately enable their customers to achieve more.
Learn more about the Secrets of Radiation Hardened IT Equipment in Space by reading our blog post.
Satellite networking available anywhere, anytime
With the rapid increase in data, the importance of dependable ways to connect has also grown. That being said, Microsoft boasts a global network of over 160,000 miles of subsea, terrestrial, and metro optical fiber, helping billions of people connect all around the world. However, many users also work in remote, rugged environments, finding it nearly impossible to keep up with the need for access to data at fast speeds. This is what the Azure Space ecosystem will provide.
Microsoft’s plan with Azure Space to bring comprehensive satellite connectivity solutions to meet the needs of our customers by providing a multi-orbit, multi-band, multi-vendor, cloud-enabled capability. Robust satellite communications, combined with Azure’s delivery of high-powered computing, machine learning, and data analytics creates massive amounts of growth for organizations. Microsoft’s partnership with satellite communication experts allows them to bring these resources to customers faster.
Self-contained datacenters are the future of infrastructures
Many businesses are reaping the benefits of cloud computing, with products like Azure Stack. In fact, Microsoft has already made huge strides in navigating their datacenters in extreme environments. For example, their Project Natick underwater datacenter that sat at the bottom of the ocean and proved to be extremely successful in lowering energy usage. By developing insights and gathering feedback from their users with the harshest requirements, the Microsoft Azure Modular Datacenter (MDC) is able to take computing to the next level.
Microsoft created Azure Space to support fast and secure cloud computing available in any environment. Customers will have the luxury of having Azure Space on their terms wherever they need it, in a self-contained unit – in space. The satellite data center gives organizations the ability to access a complete datacenter in remote locations, or to enhance existing infrastructure with a transportable solution. No natural disaster on Earth can harm your data center when its floating hundreds of miles above the ground level at all times.
Primed for space with the power of Azure
With the modern rocketry advancements of Space X, human missions and satellite launches have become more frequent. The accessibility and capabilities of these progressions are allowing tech companies like Microsoft develop more reliable, repeatable digital technologies to help the space community launch faster and with more confidence in the success of their missions.
Of these recent innovations between tech and space, Azure Orbital Emulator is at the top. Both commercial and government funded space exploration groups are building thousands of interlocked satellites which require detailed design and AI-driven procedures, to guarantee prime networking connectivity and coverage while in orbit.
Azure Orbital Emulator is an imitation environment that directs massive satellite simulations with software and hardware. This allows developers to evaluate and train complex AI algorithms and the satellite networking system before ever launching any satellites into orbit. Azure can mimic a complete satellite network including intricate, real-time scene generation. Azure Orbital Emulator is now being used by customers in Microsoft’s Azure Government environment.
The future of space and tech together
The partnership between space and tech helps tackle the some of the toughest technology challenges faced in the cosmos. Users currently struggle with the massive amount of data produced from satellites, bringing cloud services and bandwidth to remote locations, and designing multifaceted space systems. The network of partners brings this data to ground faster, making connections that weren’t possible before. The future of space and tech working together is exciting; using the power of cloud and space technology to help businesses re-imagine solutions to some of the most stimulating problems.
