Red Hat is teaming up with Axiom Space on Axiom's Data Center Unit-1 (AxDCU-1) for the International Space Station (ISS).

The AxDCU-1 will be powered by Red Hat Device Edge, which will enable Axiom Space to host hybrid cloud applications and workloads on an Orbital data center.

Axiom Space is aiming to launch an AxDCU-1 to the ISS in the spring of 2025.

With Red Hat, the company will test cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data fusion, and space cybersecurity on the prototype.

The Red Hat Device Edge was launched in 2022 and offers access to Microshift, a Kubernetes distribution using Red Hat OpenShift, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform.

“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,” said Tony James, chief architect, science and space at Red Hat.

”We are excited about the possibilities this collaboration with Red Hat enables for ODC infrastructure and the future of space operations. 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,” added Jason Aspiotis, global director of In-Space Data and Security, Axiom Space.

Axiom's Orbital Data Centers (ODCs) aim to enable data to be processed closer to spacecraft and satellites, bypassing the need for terrestrial-based data centers. The company includes in its possible use cases Earth observation satellites needing in-space low-latency data storage and processing.

In 2022, Axiom Space worked with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to bring a Snowcone SSD to the International Space Station - AWS' smallest Edge Snow device. The Snowcone line was discontinued in late 2024.

Axiom revealed plans in December 2023 to launch an Orbital Data Center, targeting a 2026 launch for the first module. The data center will initially be a part of the International Space Station, but is planned to separate and remain in orbit, once the ISS is decommissioned.

Yesterday, March 6, the Lonestar data center landed on the Moon, carried by Intuitive Machines' Athena lander. DCD profiled the project and more in the next issue of the DCD Magazine. Subscribe for free today.