GigaOM Pro

Space scientists are using clouds, both public and private, to process massive data sets and bring research results to the public.

The much-hyped benefits of cloud computing are of interest to a growing number of industry sectors, each of which brings with it a particular set of requirements. Possibly more esoteric than most, exploration of the cosmos presents diverse challenges for those working with the constant streams of data beamed down from distant sensors. Inside NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), separate teams are working to understand how — if at all — cloud-based infrastructures might aid in furthering understanding of the worlds around us.