Microsoft is taking its Azure cloud computing platform to the final and ultimate destination on October 20. It now features a dedicated business unit called Azure Space for that purpose, made up of industry heavyweights and engineers who are focused on space-sector services, long with the simulation of space missions, gathering and interpreting of satellite data to supply insights, and providing global satellite networking capabilities through latest and expanded partnerships.
SpaceX has associated with Microsoft for satellite-powered internet connectivity on Azure and has debuted azure space. A group of products for the space-related cloud market. Azure is a group of products plus the newly announced partnerships designed to position azure as a key player within the space and satellite-related connectivity/compute a part of the cloud market. Azure isn’t only for companies in the space industry, but also it’s meant to appeal to companies in public and private industries.
Azure Modular Datacenter
One of Microsoft’s new partners for Azure Space is SpaceX, the progenitor and major current player within the so-called “New Space” industry. Starlink’s low-latency satellite-based broadband network for Microsoft’s new Azure Modular Datacenter (MDC) is essentially an on-demand container-based data center unit that can be deployed in remote locations, either to operate or to work on their own or boost local capabilities.
The Azure Modular Datacenter MDC is a contained unit, and it operates off-grid using its satellite network connectivity add-on. It’s similar in concept to the company’s work on underwater data centers. However, keeping it on the bottom exposes more opportunities in terms of locating or transporting it anywhere when people need it. Clients require this for cloud computing and storage needs. It can operate in harsh conditions and in challenging environments, including remote locations. essentially built into a mobile, satellite-connected shipping container. Customers could either choose to use the MDC as a wholly independent datacenter or they can connect it to one or more satellite constellations, including Starlink. With what a SpaceX executive recently described as dual parabolic antennas, an MDC could likely have access to gigabit-class internet connectivity.
Possible scenarios where an MDC would be valuable include “mobile command centers, humanitarian assistance, military mission needs, mineral exploration, secure computing, etc.
Microsoft concluded, instead of having to be proximate to an ocean or sea. It includes its HVAC system, server racks, networking, and security capabilities and these features are meant to offer customers a ruggedized option for setting up an Azure datacenter in remote locations. The MDC can run connected or disconnected.
Other partners Microsoft is claiming to participate in its Azure Space initiative include satellite operator SES, KSAT, Viasat, Kratos, Amergint, KubOS, and US Electrodynamics. Microsoft set forth a partnership with SES for Azure Orbital last month at its Ignite conference and the pair also decides to do more work together and to expand their satellite connectivity with the MDC and other cloud datacenter regions and devices. As Microsoft has teamed up with SpaceX and SES to launch the tech giant’s new cloud computing business for space, it also says that it’s taking the upcoming giant leap in cloud computing, in partnership with SpaceX and its Starlink broadband satellite constellation.
By associating with leaders in the space community, they are going to extend the utility of their Azure capabilities with worldwide satellite connectivity, unblock cloud computing in additional scenarios, and also they will authorize and empower their partners and customers to attain more in the future. The association with SpaceX is taken into consideration as one of the biggest revelations in today’s unveiling of Microsoft’s Azure Space cloud computing platform.
The developments put Microsoft at the forefront of space-based cloud computing, alongside Amazon Web Services and it’s recently formed Aerospace and Satellite Solutions business unit. They’re also likely to reshape cloud computing into a different battleground for the multibillion-dollar rivalry between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who founded the Blue Origin space venture.
Today’s announcement builds on Microsoft’s earlier rollout of Azure Orbital, a satellite data processing platform that gives ground-station communications as a service. Azure Orbital, which is recently available in private preview, will become a part of the broader Azure Space ecosystem.
Azure Orbital Emulator
The other significant announcement focuses on space preparedness via simulation. Microsoft revealed the Azure Orbital Emulator today, which further provides an exceedingly computer emulated environment that can test satellite constellation operations in simulation, using both software and hardware. It’s aiming to provide as close to in-space conditions as are possible on the ground to urge large coordinating, interconnected constellations of automated satellites in low Earth orbit, an increasing need as more defense agencies and private companies pursue this approach versus the legacy method of depending on one, two or simply some large geosynchronous spacecraft.
Microsoft says that the goal with the Orbital Emulator was to train the artificial intelligence for using it on orbital spacecraft before those spacecraft are launched.
From the first development phase, right up to working with production hardware on the ground before it takes its trip to space. And that is seen to be an enormous potential competitive advantage because it can help companies to spot even more potential problems ahead of time while they’re still relatively easy to mend.
The company noted that this kind of environment for on-orbit mission prep is already in use by Azure Government customers. It’s also searching for more partners across government and industry for space-related services, including communication, national security, and satellite services including observation and telemetry, and more.
The tech giant says satellite constellations “require precise planning and sophisticated AI-driven formation protocols” and that the emulator which can help developers by generating scenarios in real-time using pre-collected satellite imagery. Companies and organizations can use it to train AI algorithms and ensure that the satellite network they’re planning will work just like they’re expecting it to before they launch a single satellite.
It announces with a promise to assist customers in the space industry with projects off and on the planet and says that their approach helps to handle some of the toughest technology challenges that our customers face in space such as coping with an enormous amount of data generated from satellites, bringing cloud services and bandwidth to the most remote locations, and designing highly complex space systems, etc. And paired with their ecosystem of partners can help bring this data to the ground quickly; they’re also functioning hard to make it easier to search for insights and make connections that weren’t possible before.
Now they appear to be all ready to support their customers on their space missions off and the planet and to use the power of cloud and space technology to help businesses across industries re-imagine solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems.
Conclusion
Thus, SpaceX is after all the name that people that folks immediately consider once they think about innovation and also the evolution that’s occurring to bring space technology into the 21st century. As we all know the space community is growing rapidly, and the barriers of innovations have been lowered to access for the public as well as private sector organizations. What used to solely be the bastion of governments, the innovation developed by private space companies has democratized access to space, and also the use of space to develop novel scenarios and opportunities to fulfill the wants of both the public and private sector space that has been powering the globe for a long time.”
In addition to its SpaceX association, Microsoft is partnering with Luxembourg satellite operator SES. The company will also connect its O3b satellites to Azure, in addition to the services SES is providing for Azure Orbital.
Likely but coincidental, Microsoft Azure’s Starlink partnership came around the same time as Amazon began to move back the curtains on Project Kuiper, a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet constellation almost difficult to identify from Starlink. Somewhat unsurprisingly, Kuiper – lead by executives SpaceX CEO Elon Musk personally fired in 2019 for moving too slowly. And it had no set schedule or indication of early prototype development. In other words, Amazon likely believes that its potential advantages are so strong and so unequaled that it doesn’t matter if it’s years late to the party.
On the other hand, it could also be the case that Amazon, especially Amazon Web Services, in particular, it perceives a lack of the capabilities offered by a high-bandwidth satellite internet constellation to be such an existential threat that the company has no choice but to try to enter the fray. As such, SpaceX’s partnership with Microsoft Azure Cloud Services is ofcourse a direct shot across Amazon’s bow, demonstrating that whether or not Project Kuiper manages to start operational satellite launches in only a year or two, the company will immediately face experienced, organized competition.
References
- SpaceX Starlink Partners with Microsoft Azure to Deploy Cloud Computing Anywhere – Teslerati
- Microsoft Launches Azure Space initiative; Partners with SpaceX – ZD Net
- Azure Space Partners Bring Deep Expertise to New Venture – Microsoft News
