SpaceX Partners With Microsoft on a Space-Based Cloud Computing Business

Microsoft launched a new cloud computing company in a bid to make it’s ‘Azure’ platform the space industry’s defacto-standard platform. The software pioneer is creating various technologies that will help the private and public sectors. It will help them to launch faster, while making sure they achieve their ultimate goals. One of those technologies is going to be the Azure Orbital Emulator, which can conduct large-scale satellite constellation simulations.

Advanced Satellite Simulation

According to Microsoft, satellite constellations ‘require precise planning and sophisticated AI-driven formation protocols’. So, the Microsoft cloud computing-based emulator is supposed to help software developers. Microsoft plans to do so by generating scenarios in real time using imagery gathered from satellites. Companies can use the platform to train AI algorithms. Then, it can help make sure that the satellite networks that they are planning will perform in the way they are expecting. All before they launch a single satellite.

Also, Microsoft is partnering with companies in the space industry in order to provide services to industry right here on Earth. One of the biggest partners involved is Elon Musk’s SpaceX. So, This will provide Microsoft access to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network for the its Azure Modular cloud computing Datacenter. The MDC is pretty neat. It’s a self-contained data-center that has the ability to be transported anywhere. Therefor, clients that need these services a lot of flexibility. The MDC can run in harsh conditions and in the most challenging of environments.

Microsoft said it will help customers in the industry with projects both on and off-world:

Our approach helps to address the some of the toughest technology challenges that our customers face in space: dealing with the vast amount of data generated from satellites, bringing cloud computing services and bandwidth to the most remote locations, and designing highly complex space systems. Coupled with our ecosystem of partners than can help bring this data to ground faster, we’re making it easier to find insights and make connections that weren’t possible before.

We are ready to support customers on their space missions off and on the planet, and to use the power of cloud and space technology to help business across industries re-imagine solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems.