A permanently operating network of data centres in space interconnected via inter-satellite links will form the backbone of a full Commercial Cloud Computing for Space (3CS) architecture. An early step towards this vision is already operating in orbit and is available for third party use. This activity complements the other 3CS studies and concentrates on performing practical demonstrations by early adopters We aim to kick-start future economies.
The first demonstration system was launched in June 2021 on D-Orbit’s SCV-004 “Wild Ride” Mission, successfully demonstrated a range of applications including the FDL/ESA “World Floods” application. A second platform on the SCV-005 mission “Dashing through the stars” was launched in January 2022 and features a hyperspectral sensor on board, configured to extract data from the Sentinel-2 spectral bands to enable real-time execution of applications developed for sentinel-2. The study funds will be used by D-Orbit in partnership with ESA to organise an open competition towards industry in ESA member states. We will invite proposals for the deployment of a “cognitive” applications to be tested on-orbit and will award prizes in the form of cash prizes and cloud usage credits. Cloud usage credits will provide the opportunity to winners to fly their proposals.
We will be looking out for applications with specific characteristics that could include:
- Established AI applications using Copernicus Sentinel-2 data
- Currently deployed in a (terrestrial) cloud environment
- Is already achieving commercial income for its development
- Would benefit significantly from deployment on-orbit Application's could apply to EO or SSA domains such as real-time detection of objects (e.g. ships, debris) from orbit and extraction of relevant pixels and coordinates for immediate transmission to users.
