Astronautic Technology Sdn Bhd (ATSB) selected a wide range of compute and storage technology from SGI, in order to receive, process and distribute high-resolution imagery obtained by Malaysia’s Earth observation satellite.
The SGI-powered real-time data processing system was installed in July in preparation for the launch of the RazakSAT spacecraft. Currently, Malaysian agencies requiring satellite imagery rely upon image data and information provided by satellites manufactured and operated by foreign companies.
The RazakSAT satellite will be operated through its ground station in Malaysia, consisting of a Mission Control Station (MCS) and Image Receiving and Processing Station (IRPS), where the SGI systems are housed. ATSB’s engineers are operators at the MCS and will execute RazakSAT’s mission plan, command generation and telemetry receiving, archiving and analysis. Using the SGI real-time image and data processing system, which includes an SGI Altix 350 server running Oracle as the database for their image processing application, the IPRS will receive images for archive, post-processing and distribution.
“By providing 64-bit processing power to model the sensors and re-sample all this data onto a geographic system, SGI technology optimizes our application performance and interactivity for image manipulation and delivers real-time visualization with large models and enormous data sets,” said Shamsulazwan Samsuddin, Spacecraft Engineer, Astronautic Technology.
The SGI system receiving and processing satellite image data in real time was developed to provide not only highly accurate image products but also systematic and automatic operation. The system is designed for multi-satellite data handling capability. ATSB also selected SGI for expandable architecture, which includes 2TB of SGI InfiniteStorage that can grow with image and data requirements.
The development of the RazakSAT satellite system is a collaborative program between ATSB and SaTReC Initiative, Republic of Korea. SaTReC Initiative provides a whole spectrum of Earth observation satellite systems including spacecraft buses, Earth observation payloads, communications equipment and satellite image receiving and processing systems. The overall objectives of the collaboration is to demonstrate indigenous spacecraft design and manufacturing competence, to get involved in all aspects of high-resolution image observations and processing in a near equatorial LEO orbit (NeqO) for a number of applications in developing countries, and to develop technology for future missions.