A new data centre on the International Space Station is one step closer to launch, as Axiom Space has announced a new partnership with Red Hat. 

Axiom Space’s Data Center Unit-1 (AxDCU-1) represents the company’s initial proof of concept for orbital data centre (ODC) technology. This smaller prototype will process data in real time on the International Space Station, serving as a key stepping stone before Axiom Space’s larger T1 data centre deployment arrives in orbit by 2027. 

While the larger T1 data centre is destined to be part of the company’s plans for the world’s first standalone commercial space station, dubbed Axiom Station, AxDCU-1 is set to join the International Space Station in Spring 2025. 

Axiom Space has made no secret of its ambition to develop advanced space infrastructure – from its work on the world’s first commercial space station to plans for deploying commercial orbital data centres. These data centres will offer on-orbit data processing, moving large-scale computing closer to where it is produced, such as satellites or spacecraft, and reducing the reliance on ground-based facilities. 

At the heart of AxDCU-1 will be Red Hat Device Edge, which leverages the Red Hat-led community project MicroShift – a lightweight Kubernetes distribution derived from Red Hat OpenShift – supported by Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform. These tools are designed to enable cloud-native applications on-orbit.

Beyond simple data processing, Axiom Space envisions a host of applications for orbital data centres. These could include AI/ML training, off-planet backup and disaster recovery, faster data relay via optical inter-satellite links, multi-factor authentication, and cyber intrusion detection and response – all taking place away from terrestrial constraints.

Tony James, Chief Architect, Science and Space, Red Hat, commented on the plans, “Off-planet data processing is the next frontier, and edge computing is a crucial component. With Red Hat Device Edge and in collaboration with Axiom Space, Earth-based mission partners will have the capabilities necessary to make real-time decisions in space with greater reliability and consistency.”

Jason Aspiotis, Global Director of in-space data and security, Axiom Space, added, ”We are excited about the possibilities this collaboration with Red Hat enables for ODC infrastructure and the future of space operations,” said Jason Aspiotis, global director of in-space data and security at Axiom Space. “Infusing terrestrial-grade cloud solutions into ODCs will enable users to seamlessly transition and enhance their terrestrial workloads to orbit while leveraging the lower latency and increased security inherent with ODCs.”