Startup Tests Software to Transform Satellites into Orbital Data Centers

The startup Satlyt recently completed a successful test of software intended to turn satellites into virtual data centers. Conducted over 13 months with the University of Houston and NASA-funded research, the project demonstrated how computing tasks can be distributed among orbital hardware.

During the experiment, the software managed a simulated network consisting of four computers and eight services. While only one physical computer in orbit executed the software, the test confirmed the system's ability to generate operational plans based on available computing power and communication links.

Founder Rama Afullo noted that the technology is designed to help spacecraft process data locally, such as identifying wildfires, to provide faster information to users on Earth. This approach seeks to overcome constraints like limited bandwidth and intermittent connectivity.

The company plans to conduct further testing to address challenges such as secure data transfers, resource scheduling, and inter-satellite communication. Future goals include validating the software across various environments and enabling developers to build space-based applications without needing to rebuild infrastructure for every mission.