The Project

Background

Satellites or space probes are usually created for specific applications. This generally excludes the use of a probe or satellite by several companies that operate different applications on them. As a result, the number of space probes and satellites is higher than it needs to be. This results in avoidable costs and, ultimately, has a negative impact on the environment through the avoidable generation of space debris and high carbon dioxide emissions due to unnecessary rocket launches.

If an execution environment can be created in which multiple companies can securely run applications on the probes or satellites, these systems can be reused many times and available system resources can be better utilized. These advantages made possible by virtualization have long been available in data centers and cloud infrastructures on Earth.

The DARKSOL project aims to research approaches for the implementation of a "space cloud", which should make it possible to operate applications in the space industry for satellites, robotics or space probes as in a modern data center on Earth.

One challenge is the long distances involved in space communications and the obstacles between communication partners that cannot be overcome by communication signals. For example, if a robot on Mars needs a software update, it will take several minutes for the update to reach the robot from Earth. For tasks such as software updates or the installation of new software, the space industry has developed and deployed very specific solutions that are not comparable to today's approaches to operating applications in data centers or clouds. These operational approaches currently have no way to address the challenges mentioned above. This is the starting point for the DARKSOL project.

Objectives

The overall aim of the DARKSOL project is to...

• ... research and validate a system architecture for software execution environments that enables high-quality, low-effort and low-emission operation as well as lifecycle management of software in environments with episodic or delayed connectivity.
• ... to realize a high degree of automation and autonomy in the administration of the system as well as a strong separation of clients so that the available hardware resources can be easily shared by different clients. The consolidation of a large number of workloads, including those of different clients, on the individual hardware systems should enable a drastic reduction in the total hardware required and the emissions caused by its production and use.

Milestones