Jamie Bennet
The space industry needs to address challenges in satellite data volume, bandwidth and latency to prepare for the forecasted surge in satellite launches in the next five years, said Clint Crosier, aerospace and satellite director at Amazon Web Services.
In an interview on CIO.inc, he recommended the use of cloud-based artificial intelligence, machine learning and next-generation data analytics to solve the three major space data problems.
The Satellite Industry Association reported that in 2022, the number of satellites in space exceeded 7,000. In the next five years, it will increase fivefold with more data capabilities than previous versions, Crosier said.
He explained that instead of investing in a global data infrastructure, space companies should procure cloud services, which cost less but can support information collection, analytics and distribution at scope and scale. This will enable the organizations to allocate their resources to mission performance.
The contribution of cloud to the future of space will be ubiquitous – everywhere all the time, Crosier remarked. Cloud will have the same impact on the digital revolution in the same way that mechanized machinery was instrumental in the industrial revolution, and cloud technology will be fundamental for space organizations and companies to stay competitive in the long run, he added.
