SpaceX is all set to launch its Falcon 9 rocket tonight, which will take another shipment of cargo and science experiments up to the International Space Station. However, in addition, that shipment will also include a supercomputer to be tested out.
SpaceX
SPACEX'S FALCON 9 ROCKET BEFORE A RESUPPLY MISSION IN JUNE - SPACEX
Called the Spaceborne Computer, it’s being provided by a joint project between Hewlett Packard Enterprises and NASA, in order to see if a commercial computer can be designed in a way that lets it survive the harsh environment of space. If the experiment is successful, it’ll be a crucial step forward to building computing hardware for future deep space missions.
The ISS travels around the Earth in a low orbit just outside the majority of our atmosphere. This makes it a horrible place for computers, as they’re exposed to much more radiation from solar flares and cosmic rays, which can damage them over time. As such, computers sent to space are first given added layers of shielding before launch, a process that costs time and money, while also adding to the weight of the device that has to eventually be loaded onto a rocket.
The Spaceborne Computer experiment however uses “off-the-shelf” hardware, instead relying on software upgrades to keep in functioning. The computer runs on the open-source Linux operating system, and has been tweaked to recognise when a high-radiation incident like a solar flare occurs. When that happens, it cuts back its operations and speeds to save power, while also avoiding damage, NASA says.
The device reportedly passed 146 safety tests in order to be approved for the experiment. Not an unreasonable number when you learn it’s needs to last at year onboard the ISS if the experiment is to be considered successful. If it works, these software-shielded computers will become standard for future missions to the outer reaches of our solar system, including missions to Mars. Communications between us and the Red Planet could take more than 40 minutes to make the round trip, so astronauts need to be able to rely on the hardware at their disposal.
The Falcon 9 is scheduled to take off at 10:01 pm IST tonight, from Cape Canaveral in Florida.