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DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION
FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY / JUNE 23, 2003: VOL. 2 NO. 25
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Special Features:
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY TO RELY ON
GRIDS
Grid computing technology is expected to be on the horizon for the European
Space Agency. The agency plans to use the technology to aid research, overcome
communication problems with its disparate centres and partner organisations,
and reduce costs.
The technology combines the processing power of many linked computers and
is
seen as the next stage of computing. A two-year ESA study known as SpaceGrid
recommended its use at its last meeting at the end of May.
According to the study, spacecraft design, tele-monitoring, solar science
and
Earth observation could all benefit.
However the study also concluded that grid computing needed development for
the benefits to be realised. The problems include standardising grid software,
interoperability with other internet services, security and connection speeds.
By the end of the year ESA is aiming to begin two new projects to develop the
technology in the areas of observ-ation and remote testing but no budget has
currently been agreed for either.
An ESA spokesperson explained that if the technical obstacles could be
overcome the potential for video and audio conferencing alone could help
reduce the difficulty in having people in different locations working on the
same project. This issue has led to higher costs because at certain stages
during a project all personnel have to gather in one place. With grid
technology communication, he said, the disparate geography issue could be
resolved.
As well as improved group co-operation across distances, research that
could
be directly aided includes mechanical analysis, collaborative engineering and
prototype design.
The grid envisaged for these tasks would have computer 'nodes' using 10GB
databases with 2Ghz microprocessors linked by network connection speeds of up
to 100MB per second.
Key benefits in the area of mechanical analyses are the processing of large
quantities of data, automatic model updates and the near real time
dissemination of test data.
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