IBM’s Red Hat and Axiom Space Are Sending a Data Center to the ISS—Here’s Why It Matters

It looks like space is becoming the next big frontier for data centers. Just recently, we covered how Lonestar is planning to send the first physical data center—a RISC-V processor with a Phison SSD running Ubuntu—to the Moon. This follows their earlier success in testing the world’s first software-defined data center on the International Space Station (ISS).

Now, IBM’s Red Hat is getting in on the action. The company has partnered with Axiom Space to launch a data center to the ISS in spring 2025. This prototype, called the Data Center Unit-1 (AxDCU-1), will be powered by Red Hat Device Edge, an enterprise-grade version of MicroShift (a lightweight Kubernetes distribution based on Red Hat OpenShift). It will also run Red Hat Enterprise Linux and the Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform.

Why Put a Data Center in Space?

AxDCU-1 is designed to test a variety of cutting-edge applications, including cloud computing, AI/ML, data fusion, and space cybersecurity. The project will also lay the groundwork for future Orbital Data Center (ODC) capabilities.

“Off-planet data processing is the next frontier, and edge computing is a crucial component,” said Tony James, chief architect for Science and Space at Red Hat. “With Red Hat Device Edge and our collaboration with Axiom Space, Earth-based mission partners will gain the ability to make real-time decisions in space with greater reliability and consistency.”

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The Future of In-Space Data Processing

This initiative is part of Axiom Space’s broader effort to develop space infrastructure that allows data to be processed closer to its off-world sources—such as spacecraft and satellites. The goal? To enable faster and more secure decision-making beyond Earth.

“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. “By integrating terrestrial-grade cloud solutions into ODCs, users can seamlessly transition and enhance their workloads in orbit while benefiting from lower latency and increased security.”

According to Axiom Space, potential applications for these orbital data centers include in-space data processing for satellites, AI/ML training, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, space weather analytics, and even off-planet backups for Earth’s critical infrastructure.

With major players like Red Hat and Axiom Space pushing the boundaries, the concept of space-based data centers is quickly moving from science fiction to reality.

Source: TechRadar

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