Summary Points
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In summer 2024, auroras dazzled North America, driven by solar activity that also threatens satellite operations on Earth.
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The Frontier Development Lab, in partnership with NASA and AI firms, leverages machine learning to enhance predictions of solar events and their impact on satellites.
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Collaborating with KX Systems, researchers used kdb+ software to analyze datasets and successfully predicted disruptive space weather up to 24 hours in advance.
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Insights from NASA’s partnership have benefited KX’s commercial offerings, demonstrating a fruitful synergy between space exploration and industrial applications.
In the summer of 2024, a stunning display of auroras captivated people across North America. However, the solar activities that create these beautiful sights can also disrupt satellites that are vital for communication and navigation on Earth. Scientists believe artificial intelligence may provide a way to predict these solar events and issue timely warnings to satellite operators.
To tackle this challenge, NASA has partnered with the Frontier Development Lab in Mountain View, California. This initiative collaborates with commercial AI companies to apply advanced machine learning to significant scientific issues. Since its inception in 2016, the lab has focused on areas like planetary defense, heliophysics, Earth science, medicine, and lunar exploration.
Recently, the lab joined forces with KX Systems, a company known for its analytics software used in the finance sector. Rather than just monitoring market trends, KX sought to adapt its flagship program, kdb+, for space applications. Between 2017 and 2019, KX worked closely with NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. Their goal was to explore how kdb+ could predict space weather and identify exoplanets.
One major question focused on whether the software could forecast space weather that leads to auroras. This prediction would help estimate when GPS satellites might face signal interruptions due to solar activity. By analyzing multiple datasets—such as solar activity, the ionosphere, and Earth’s magnetic field—researchers were able to predict disruptive events up to 24 hours in advance.
While the projects primarily serve scientific purposes, KX Systems reports that their work with NASA has also benefited their commercial offerings. The technology designed to analyze satellite signal losses has parallels in predicting maintenance needs for industrial equipment.
As a division of FD Technologies plc., KX Systems has evolved since its founding in 1993. The collaboration with NASA has accelerated advancements in its AI-driven technology. This synergy between NASA’s expertise and commercial innovation showcases a promising roadmap for future applications, from safeguarding critical satellites to optimizing industrial performance. Such partnerships underscore how collaborative efforts can enhance scientific discovery and technological development, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.
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