The artificial intelligence (AI) program Klepsydra will be hosted on Firefly’s Elytra vehicle, which is scheduled to launch atop Alpha later this year, according to a new deal announced today by Firefly Aerospace, Inc., an end-to-end space transportation company. As an edge computing platform in orbit, Elytra can handle many hosted software applications with on-orbit real-time data processing.
Vice President of Spacecraft Jana Spruce stated, “Edge computing in space is the key to overcome critical bandwidth challenges that come with downlinking massive volumes of data from spacecraft to ground stations on Earth.” “Elytra’s edge compute platform enables onboard data processing to support real-time decision making and a wide range of autonomous applications, such as space domain awareness, anomaly detection, and vision navigation, instead of relaying all this data to the ground.”
Elytra’s edge compute platform, which was created and constructed internally at Firefly, connects directly with the vehicle’s core avionics and can accept telemetry data from sensors, cameras, and payloads. The platform operates software applications as a service, allowing for quick data processing while in orbit and then downlinking the interesting post-processed data to clients.
Klepsydra Technologies will use Elytra’s edge compute platform as part of Elytra Mission 1 to further test and validate their AI navigation application. Onboard sensor data will be processed by Klepsydra’s AI models, which will then transmit the results back to Earth for real-time attitude determination, guidance, navigation, and control (GNC). Moreover, Klepsydra will implement a second cloud detection algorithm to show off its capacity to dynamically turn AI apps on and off, opening the door for Klepsydra’s AI-as-a-service offering.
Pablo Ghiglino, CEO of Klepsydra Technologies, stated, “We are deeply honored by the trust Firefly has placed in us as we demonstrate our ground-breaking AI software for space processors.”
During Elytra Mission 1, after separating from Firefly’s Alpha rocket, Elytra will initially launch commercial payloads and support a responsive space demonstration for the NRO, which includes carrying out an on-orbit maneuver and launching additional U.S. government payloads as needed. Elytra will function as an edge computing platform for hosted software customers for up to a year while in orbit.
