NASA and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) have announced a collaborative agreement to test edge computing with a new computer designed to deliver artificial intelligence (AI) in space. The new technology will increase space exploration and astronauts’ self-sufficiency by providing real-time data processing with advanced commercial edge computing in space.

“The most important benefit to delivering reliable in-space computing with Spaceborne Computer-2 is making real-time insights a reality. Space explorers can now transform how they conduct research based on readily available data and improve decision-making,” said Dr. Mark Fernandez, HPE’s principal investigator for Spaceborne Computer-2.

Later this month, the Spaceborne Computer-2 (SBC-2) will become the first high-performance commercial computer to operate in space on the International Space Station (ISS). SBC-2 is scheduled to launch into orbit on the 15th Northrop Grumman Resupply Mission to Space Station (NG-15) on Feb. 20, 2021 and will be available for use on the ISS for the next 2-3 years.

“Edge computing provides core capabilities for unique sites that have limited or no connectivity, giving them the power to process and analyze data locally and make critical decisions quickly,” said Shelly Anello, general manager of converged edge systems at HPE.

Once launched and assembled in space, NASA will leverage the system to enable astronauts to use AI and other advanced computing capabilities. SBC-2 will provide NASA with more reliable computing on the ISS, as well as support human space travel to the Moon and Mars. 

SBC-2 was built off a prototype launched into orbit in 2017, the Spaceborne Computer. HPE tested Spaceborne Computer’s affordability and commercial off-the-shelf servers used on earth. Following its predecessor, HPE designed SBC-2 to sustain operations in space, along with software coded for space-based work.

Astronauts will use the computer to process data from the space station, satellites, cameras and other sensors. HPE partnered with Microsoft Azure to provide additional compute resources through its Azure Space cloud capability recently launched to support NASA, Space Force and other partners.

“We are honored to make edge computing in space possible and through our longstanding partnerships with NASA and the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory, we are look forward to powering new, exciting research opportunities to make breakthrough discoveries for humanity,” Fernandez added. 

Two NASA-operated facilities will collaborate on the testing and certification processes for flight software the agency intends to use on its mission to land astronauts on the moon in 2024.

The Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland started conducting tests of the core Flight System to help address the lunar Gateway's operational requirements and will deliver the technology to the Johnson Space Center in Texas for additional software performance checks, potential updates and crew rating, NASA said Wednesday.

Goddard software developers built cFS in 2004 and updated the software to support multiple spaceflight missions such as the Constellation Programs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Solar Probe Plus and the Cryogenic Propellant Storage and Transfer Project.

“The Artemis program provides resources to help us improve the product, which benefits everyone who uses it," said Jacob Hageman, team lead for the Gateway cFS certification effort.

NASA recently awarded SpaceX a $331.8 million contract to launch the lunar outpost's solar electric propulsion spacecraft and crew cabin by May 2021 aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket.

Maxar Technologies will manufacture the Power and Propulsion Element with 60-kilowatt solar array under a $375 million contract, while Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) will produce the Habitation and Logistics Outpost under a $187 million contract.

The Department of Defense (DOD) is still assessing how to open up the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) initiative for reciprocity with the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) and other certification programs as part of a push to help contractors save money as they comply with the new cyber standard, FCW reported Thursday.

Stacy Bostjanick, director of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification at DOD’s office of the under secretary for acquisition and sustainment, said a team is collaborating with DOD and the General Services Administration to align the methodologies, levels and requirements of FedRAMP and the CMMC program, which is expected to be included in all defense contracts by 2025.

Bostjanick said Wednesday during an AFCEA Nova event that DOD has finished its reciprocity review for the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center (DIBCAC) and carried out provisional audits.

She said guidance memo for DIBCAC is awaiting signature, while guidance for FedRAMP could be issued by the end of fiscal year 2021.

The U.S. Navy has created an organization within Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Indian Head Division (IHD) that will evaluate explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) equipment to address system capability gaps. 

Naval Sea Systems Command said Thursday the Battle Lab's EOD Technology Assessment Branch houses engineering, scientific, program management and technical professionals tasked with reviewing commercial off-the-shelf platforms that could help military personnel identify and dispose of explosive threats.

The new unit will help the Navy determine equipment needs, develop requirements, manage buying processes and implement technologies within the division's areas of expertise.

“Given the significant increase in the private sector’s capability to deliver EOD relevant technology and the additional flexibility in defense acquisition authorities, the Navy and Joint Service EOD Technology Center are continuing to adapt to meet warfighter needs,” said Capt. Eric Correll, commanding officer of NSWC IHD.

He added that the Battle Lab will support product analysis efforts to help drive the branch's acquisition programs.

Laura Stanton, assistant commissioner for the office of Information Technology category at the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), said the IT category recorded more than $30 billion in fiscal 2020 revenue, up from the previous fiscal year’s $26.5 billion, Federal News Network reported Thursday.

“That really represents the trust that the federal agencies have put in us, the customer service, the support in reducing the acquisition lead time, the innovation, the data transparency, all of the things that the federal agencies have put their trust into ITC in order to make that happen,” Stanton said during a panel sponsored by ACT-IAC. She noted that the figures are not yet final.

“Out of that, we also provided more than $2 billion in savings and cost avoidance to the customers out of ITC alone,” she added.

Stanton said GSA also advanced efforts to promote robotics process automation, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies and plans to launch new acquisition vehicles this year under Polaris and ASTRO governmentwide acquisition contracts for small businesses.

“We also launched the IT acquisition university, which is about the digitization of the workforce, and how that’s beginning to change how we get out new information on how to buy and about technology,” Stanton said during the panel.

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has made progress implementing its electronic health record (EHR) system by performing end-user training, creating system interfaces and capabilities and making system configuration decisions, among other efforts. 

GAO said in the report published Thursday there were 361 high severity test findings and 17 critical severity test findings that VA failed to close or address as of late September 2020. The congressional watchdog recommended that VA delay fielding its new EHR system in new sites until all existing critical and high severity test findings are addressed or closed.

On Oct. 24, VA fielded its EHR platform in Spokane, Washington, with zero critical severity test findings. The department also saw its high severity test findings drop from 361 in September to 55 the following month. Of the remaining 55, 44 high severity test findings had workarounds, seven were linked to future deployments and one had a workaround VA identified at the time of initial deployment.

“Nevertheless, as the department moves forward with deployment of additional capabilities at new locations, VA will likely identify new critical and high severity test findings,” GAO said. “If VA does not close or appropriately address all critical and high severity test findings prior to deploying at future locations, the system may not perform as intended.”

Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) has entered the final stages of a partnership with academia to develop a system that can test the material corrosion of naval weapon systems.

NSWC PHD partnered with the University of California, Santa Barbara to develop an automated corrosion testing system (ACTS), Naval Sea Systems Command said Wednesday.

The project began in September with NSWC PHD’s Fathomwerx Lab, a private-public partnership, and five personnel from UCSB’s mechanical engineering department.

The system moves an object into and out of the water to speed up the corrosion rate, then applies a liquid solution afterward. Users may also control salinity, water temperature and other variables of the test via a computer interface.

“The Navy can utilize the automated corrosion testing system for research and development and new design application, but what we plan on using this for is overall maintenance and to understand more how we can contribute to ship readiness,” said Armen Kvryan, lead materials engineer at NSWC PHD.

The team aims to finish the system by June 2021