LEADERS' OUTLOOK
The Massive Need for Innovation in Space-Based Missions BY MAJ GEN (RETD) CLINT CROSIER
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Director, Aerospace & Satellite Solutions, Amazon Web Services
OVID has accelerated a digital transformation across aerospace as well as many other industries, putting us several years ahead of where we otherwise expected to be on that journey. As organizations have pivoted quickly to respond, they have adopted Cloud to power remote work, tele-health, and distance learning. As a result, cloud computing is moving faster than ever before, helping to push collaboration and communication at scale.
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More broadly, in the satellite industry, customers are seeing the value of the Cloud to collaborate, streamline operations, and grow and scale in response to evolving customer needs. One benefit of the AWS (Amazon Web Services) Cloud is its global network, which allows satellite customers to access their data when and where they need it most. Global connectivity enables global collaboration and global response.
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Many satellite companies are turning to Cloud to create digital operations centers or transition their existing operations. Cloud capabilities, like high performance computing, help engineers streamline satellite design, development, and simulation, which allows them to continue product development and testing from any location. It is also clear that the rapid innovation we see happening across the industry will require a skilled workforce if it is to be sustained.
Ground capabilities
Satellites are being used by more and more businesses, universities, and governments for a variety of applications, including weather forecasting, Earth imaging, and communications. To do this today,
customers must build or lease ground antennas to communicate with the satellites. This is a significant undertaking and cost because customers often require antennas in multiple countries to download data when and where they need it, without waiting for the satellite to pass over a desired location. And the antennas are just the beginning of the infrastructure requirements: customers need servers, storage, and networking in close proximity to the antennas to process, store, and transport satellite data from the satellite, plus business workflows to organize, structure, and route the data before it can be used. This activity requires significant capital investments and operational costs. AWS is helping lower this barrier to entry with AWS Ground Station, which lets customers control satellite communications, process data, and scale their operations without having to worry about
