Cloud-based data processing demoed by Ball Aerospace and Microsoft
NewsMay 21, 2021
BOULDER, Colo. Ball Aerospace, in collaboration with Microsoft, completed a series of demonstrations intended to show the viability of using commercial cloud computing to process and securely deliver actionable information to those who need it, whether they are in a ground station, command center, or on the battlefield.
Enabled by the Defense Innovation Unit's (DIU) fast-paced commercial solutions process, the company claims that the demonstrations support the U.S. Space Force Space and Missile Systems Center's (SMC) Commercially Augmented Space Inter-Networked Operations (CASINO) Program Office, which serves as the SMC focal point for proliferated Low Earth Orbit (LEO) technology and prototyping.
For the demonstrations, officials claim simulated data from Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) was pushed to Microsoft's AZURE cloud where it was processed using Ball-developed event-driven architecture, and then disseminated to multiple end points.
In the final demonstration, Telesat joined the Ball-Microsoft team to complete a direct downlink of data from its network of LEO satellites to a Ball-built electronically steerable Ka-Band phased array affixed to a tactical vehicle in order to prove that actionable information could be delivered to the warfighter in the field.
