This hardened SSD could one day power data centers in space and CDNs in low orbit – Seagate transports a 2TB SSD to the ISS with AI workflows on the agenda
Seagate and BAE Systems tested the first high-capacity data storage solution designed for use in space.
The hardened SSD was evaluated aboard the International Space Station as part of a mission aimed at improving data storage for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, addressing challenges such as heat dissipation, unpressurized environments and the absence of conventional cooling.
This technology could ultimately extend CDNs and support AI-powered applications in space. By adding storage to satellite infrastructures, AI inference and real-time analytics can reach previously inaccessible regions, providing last-mile connectivity where fiber or cellular networks are lacking.
Rides in space
Seagate’s ‘Space Drive’ was part of a wider shipment from BAE Systems, including Linux-based software for real-time data processing.
This software enables containerized applications that can be updated in orbit and adapt to the changing demands of space-based systems.
In addition, the payload included a radio frequency siren and a dual-band short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) camera for improving atmospheric measurement capabilities, hurricane modeling and weather forecasting.
“Our team was able to assemble, integrate and test this payload in just eight months,” said Steve Smith, vice president of engineering, science and analytics for BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems. Aviation production.
The 2TB Seagate SSD with PCIe Gen3 x4 connectivity, which you can see in the photo below of the ‘Terrestrial Demo Unit’ and which Seagate plans to sell in 2025, is specially designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space. The device, which was delivered to the ISS via a NASA resupply mission and assembled by the astronauts on board, achieved impressive speeds of more than 2 Gbps with the help of Seagate SSDs.
The mission will last a year and conclude with the return of the payload to Earth for analysis. Engineers from BAE Systems and Seagate will investigate the effects of space exposure on SSD performance and durability and use this data to refine future designs and advance resilient storage solutions for space-based applications.