Page 132 - International Space Station Benefits for Humanity, 3rd edition.

As the task of data processing grows larger and larger,
space-based research is helping the make the tools for
accomplishing that task smaller and smaller. As spacecraft technology continues
to advance and evolve, so must
Beyond the Cloud: Data Processing from the processing technology used
Low-Earth Orbit to return information back to Earth.
The ISS is constantly downlinking information to ground
control, such as data from investigations, video footage
from interior and exterior cameras, satellite imagery—
anything that connects space to the ground.
“Radiation hardened means no matter what, radiation
As spacecraft technology continues to advance and will not effect this processor,” said Martin. “Whereas
evolve, so must the processing technology used to radiation tolerant means that most likely, nothing
return information back to Earth. The SG100 Cloud will happen—but if it does, it won’t be detrimental.
Computing Payload (i.e., SG100 Cloud Computer) The processor won’t die.”
investigation aboard the orbiting laboratory validated
a radiation-tolerant processor capable of processing No single event upsets occurred during the processor’s
data 12 times faster than any available counterpart. 2-year stay aboard the laboratory. In other words, no
data was lost.
An evolution of the main data computers used within
the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-02 (AMS-02), Once we move past low-Earth orbit, SG100 will allow
the SG100 demonstrated the technology’s ability for onboard processing, rather than requiring that data
to function in a radiation environment, providing be downlinked to Earth before analysis, thereby saving
more cost-effective spaceflight data processing time and resources.
opportunities for commercial researchers. “In low-Earth orbit, we are able to shrink the data down
“Buying a radiation hardened computer would cost to a minimal set before you send it down,” said Martin.
them about a million dollars, but replacing it with the “In deep space, it allows you to actually you to do your
SG100 will cost them about a quarter million,” said processing there. Now, if we are doing the processing
Trent Martin, the investigation’s primary investigator. on Mars, rather taking the time to send it back to
“The economic impact to the aerospace community Earth and then back to Mars—that is 16 minutes
could be significant.” that’s just eliminated.”
The SG100 challenges the current industry standard Developed by Business Integra (https://www.
of radiation-hardened processors by offering radiation- businessintegra.com/), the SG100 returned
tolerant processors. This small drop in processing to Earth aboard the SpaceX-14 Dragon capsule
ability leads to more than a half-million-dollar drop in in spring of 2018.
price, thereby opening the doors to space even wider This investigation was sponsored by the ISS
for commercial entities. National Lab, which is managed by the Center
for the Advancement of Science in Space.

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