AWS ServicesAmazon successfully conducted an experiment that involved AWS Services on an orbiting satellite

The massive amounts of data that satellites collect and transfer back to earth sometimes cause chaos among satellite operators. However, a recent experiment conducted by Amazon aims to completely eradicate this issue to safely transmit data back to the world. Amazon successfully ran AWS services on an orbiting satellite. This new AWS software prototype suggests that when cloud-based solutions are used above the earth’s actual clouds, it can significantly reduce the number of data complexities.

AWS claimed that the experiment was ‘one of its kind! This experiment regarding the cloud-based prototype transpired over a course of 10 months and presents a potential solution for satellite operators to manage imagery and sensory data generated by orbiting spacecraft more efficiently. The test was made possible through a collaboration, involving Italian company D-Orbit and Swedish start-up Unibap.

Reportedly, a D-Orbit ION satellite carrier was chosen for the experiment. The satellite was launched into space in January as a part of a SpaceX ride-share mission. ON’s processing payload, built by Unibap and powered by various AWS software tools went to the low-orbit space, using the AWS platform to review images taken from space. ION was able to recognize which images were most useful to send back to the ground and managed to reduce the size of the images, allowing for quicker downlinks.

AWS works alongside the government to build satellites and reimagine space exploration. Its website mentions that the company is removing barriers hindering innovation on Earth. This is not the first time AWS has worked to advance space exploration. Earlier, it also worked with Axiom’s Space’s first private space mission in April to send its AWS Snowcone to the International Space Station.