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Microsoft has launched a cloud computing business with the intent to make it’s ‘Azure’ platform the space industry’s standard choice. The operating system giant has created several technologies to assist the public and private sectors. The plan is to help them launch faster, while also making sure the companies can achieve their mission objectives. One of those new Microsoft technologies is the Azure Orbital Emulator, which conducts large-scale satellite constellation simulations.
Advanced satellite simulation systems
According to Remond, these satellite constellations need a lot of work before they launch. They ‘require precise planning and sophisticated AI-driven formation protocols.’ So, Microsoft’s cloud computing-based system will emulate these conditions. This will assist software developers. Microsoft using imagery gathered from satellites to create scenarios in real-time. Then, companies can use the new platform to train machine learning algorithms. This will ensure that the satellite networks that they are planning will perform in the way they are expecting. All this before they launch a single satellite.
The more the merrier
So, the company is partnering up with companies in the space industry so that it services can provided to industry right here on Earth. One of the biggest partners, of course, is Elon Musk’s SpaceX. This deal is going to provide Microsoft with access to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network for its Azure Modular cloud computing Datacenter. These MDC are actually pretty cool. They are self-contained data-centers that have the ability to be transported just about anywhere. Microsoft’s various clients that need these services require this kind of flexibility. An MDC can run in harsh conditions and in the most challenging of environments.
Microsoft mentioned that it will help customers in the industry with projects both on and off-world:
Our approach helps to address the some of the toughest technology challenges that our customers face in space: dealing with the vast amount of data generated from satellites, bringing cloud services and bandwidth to the most remote locations, and designing highly complex space systems. Coupled with our ecosystem of partners than can help bring this data to ground faster, we’re making it easier to find insights and make connections that weren’t possible before.
We are ready to support customers on their space missions off and on the planet, and to use the power of cloud and space technology to help business across industries re-imagine solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems.
