We introduce edge computing and regular updates of space

The last two years have been difficult on many fronts for both individuals and companies. We have not been able to travel great distances as a global society due to various limitations, but that does not mean that we have given up the pursuit of the stars.

During the same period, monumental advances and achievements in space exploration occurred, ranging from the successful launch of Inspiration 4 SpaceX, which transported four civilian astronauts to space, to NASA's Lucy mission, launched to study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids for a better understanding of the origin of the planets and the formation of our solar system.

With the successful launches of Rocket Labs and Virgin Orbit, we also saw several private companies take control of space exploration, while Space Perspective has begun seeking money for a balloon-based company that will bring paying consumers to the stratosphere.

These breakthroughs have amazed both young and old and have given new meaning to the space race. Actor William Shatner, well known as Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," just became the oldest person to travel into space. Blue Origin's other human mission involved four passengers, including the 90-year-old.

How can we change the way we constantly update the software that works in space now that the "ultimate frontier" is available to commercial companies? The phrase "digital transformation" is practically ubiquitous on Earth, but it is beginning to become clear that its ideals will also play an important supporting role in the next phase of space exploration.

Why DevOps in space?

One of the most shocking revelations about the new space business is that it is being swallowed up by software. It is crucial for software to be able to operate communications satellites and perform what Starlink does, which is establishing a low latency Internet infrastructure for users.

When you think about everything that happens in the "new space" - observing the earth, traveling into space, the moon, Mars and so on - none of these achievements would be conceivable without software. Although the software becomes smarter, better and easier to update, the amount of computing power required to execute software commands in space increases rapidly.

At the same time, the cost of sending payloads into space is constantly falling, especially compared to just five years ago. There are already about 2,000 operational satellites in orbit, but proposed constellations will add over 40,000 spacecraft in the coming years. We will see an increase in the number of companies developing more advanced infrastructure at a faster pace in order to continue to upgrade their satellites and constellations with more efficient and powerful software.

Companies that consistently, securely and continuously update their satellite software will have a major advantage over competitors, just as we see in other areas where edge computing is crucial - vehicles, energy / utilities, warehousing and last mile retail deliveries, to name a few.

Release quickly or risk crashing your satellites

Power consumption is one of the most important technical challenges in space flight. On Earth, we see more efficient CPU and memory, but in space it is difficult to remove heat from your CPU, making power consumption an important component. Everything, from hardware to software to processing methods, must take into account power consumption.

On the other hand, there is one thing that you have plenty of (obviously) in space: space. This means that the physical size of the hardware is a minor issue. Weight and power consumption are major challenges as they affect how microchips and microprocessors evolve.

The Ramon Space design is an excellent illustration of this. The business builds space-resistant supercomputer systems with earth-like computing capabilities using AI- and machine-learning-driven processors, with the hardware components ultimately controlled by the software that runs on top of them. The goal is to optimize the use of software and hardware so that programs can be built and customized in real time, just as they would on earth.

DevOps techniques for writing, testing, validating, analyzing, and distributing are generally the same as they are on Earth, but the types of hardware, emulation, feedback loops, and reliable software testing are significantly different.

In my opinion, we need to develop a new method of performing continuous delivery and constant upgrades in space. Many companies on earth use an orchestrator to handle continuous updates - automatic installation, administration and synchronization of systems, applications and services to help IT teams successfully manage complex tasks and workflows. There is currently no equivalent for use with satellites in orbit, and those available are quite limited.

For example, an orchestra must send and check satellite updates from the ground, which poses a significant risk to data security.

Today's astronauts need to consider how to provide satellites with all the information and data needed to perform updates efficiently, as well as how to quickly and accurately recover from incorrect updates to ensure a legitimate set of binaries on the satellite. With that said, I believe we are on the verge of a revolution that will soon make the possibility of sending binaries to the next generation of satellites a reality.

To boldly go there no person (or computer system) has taken before

When considering the current space race, it's hard not to think of "Star Trek" and how we, as an industry and a global society, boldly go where no one has gone before.

We always adapt and change in response to the environment and the difficulties we experience on earth, and this is now spreading to outer space. The iconic actor's trip to space was emotional for him; when he returned, he informed Blue Origin and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, "I'm so overwhelmed with feelings about what just happened." It's absolutely incredible, extraordinary. I pray I never get over this. "

The real human feeling is the result of the revolution's revolutionary technology, as well as a curious and fun desire to push the boundaries.

Space has changed from the "last limit" to the next opportunity with virtually unlimited possibilities under this new paradigm. That way, it's an exciting moment to live, and I'm encouraging my DevOps colleagues in all sectors to keep shooting for the stars - literally.