Lockheed Martin conducts experiments using satellites for space-based mesh network cloud computing

Feb. 12, 2020
Driving that demand is a new threat: hypersonic weapons, capable of evading a number of sensors purpose-built to detect ballistic missiles.

WASHINGTON – An experimental Lockheed Martin payload launched in December will test new cloud networking capabilities that could be of interest to the Pentagon, which wants to develop its own mesh network in low-Earth orbit by 2022. C4ISRnet reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

12 Feb. 2020 -- Developed in just nine months, the company’s Pony Express 1 mission will test new capabilities enabled by software-defined technology and cloud computing.

The military has grown increasingly interested in building an on-orbit computing capability that can use the vast amount of data satellite sensors collect for new missions, including Beyond Line of Sight targeting and tracking hypersonic weapons.

Satellites can fulfill a number of unique missions through their vantage on orbit, but at the end of the day, most of the data they collect is processed on the ground.

Related: FPGA-enabled trusted boot is part of building security into every aspect of trusted computing architectures

Related: U.S. military has big plans for the kinds of new applications that 5G communications networks will enable

Related: Silvus, Anduril join forces on ad-hoc networking to link unmanned vehicles over tactical radios

John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

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