Storage in Space: Enabling Edge Computing on the International Space Station

Explore a 41-minute keynote presentation from the Storage Developer Conference 2023 that delves into HPE's groundbreaking Spaceborne Computer program and its role in edge computing on the International Space Station. Learn about the challenges faced with SSD durability in space through the Spaceborne Computer-1 mission, launched in 2017, and discover how these issues were addressed in Spaceborne Computer-2's 2021 deployment featuring 6TB of internal SSD storage. Gain insights into critical storage design considerations for space applications, including backup and disaster recovery protocols, and understand how edge computing experiments achieved remarkable 95% reductions in Earth-bound data downloads. Examine the strategic decision to use SSDs over traditional hard drives, the utilization of ISS Payloads Network Attached Storage (PL-NAS) for EVA safety operations, and explore emerging market opportunities for edge services in space. Master key concepts including space-based storage considerations, the importance of raw storage for edge computing and AI/ML applications, practical lessons from space storage experiments, SSD failure rates in space environments, and future storage requirements for space-based services.