Booz Allen Hamilton, a provider of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to the US federal government, has announced the deployment and operation of a generative AI large language model (LLM) aboard the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab. This milestone, achieved in collaboration with Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s (HPE) Spaceborne Computer-2, reportedly marks the first time such an AI model has been deployed in space. The goal is to eventually enable astronauts to utilise generative AI without relying on Earth-bound internet, crucial in the power and communications-constrained environment of space.
Chris Bogdan, Executive Vice President at Booz Allen and leader of the firm’s space business, said: “Booz Allen is thrilled to be at the cutting edge of this exciting development and is committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible with AI and other mission-critical technologies in space. Generative AI in space is truly the new frontier and this capability unlocks the potential for on-orbit generative AI to integrate and develop mission-critical solutions and is aligned with Booz Allen’s mission to build human-led AI solutions from which our nation will thrive.”
Inspired by the Wright brothers’ historic flights, Booz Allen and HPE successfully uploaded the LLM to the ISS National Lab as part of a pioneering payload experiment. The team conducted the experiment with new queries four times within the designated command window, each time yielding consistent responses—a modern equivalent of the Kitty Hawk moment.
Dan Wald, Principal AI solutions architect for space applications at Booz Allen, added: “When milliseconds matter, on-orbit AI becomes a must-have. This patent-pending proof-of-concept demonstrates Booz Allen’s ability to deploy state-of-the-art generative AI techniques, such as retrieval-augmented generation, by compressing and optimising a containerised solution to run reliably in resource-constrained computing environments at the edge. If we can deploy generative AI in space, we can deploy it anywhere.”
The LLM application was developed over eight weeks and leverages extensive infrastructure investments from HPE and the ISS. It provides remote data ingestion and retrieval-augmented generation capabilities, allowing edge-deployed personnel to efficiently access relevant information and solve complex issues using natural language processing at the edge of space. This proof-of-concept is crucial for future deployments of AI in disconnected environments, both on Earth and in space.
Norm Follett, Senior Director, Global Marketing at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, stated: “This type of breakthrough result by the Booz Allen team is exactly in line with the mission and purpose of the HPE Spaceborne platform. To make what was previously unattainable not just possible but also deployable.”
HPE’s Spaceborne Computer-2 is an award-winning AI Edge High-Performance Compute platform, providing the international scientific community with a robust computing solution in space and constrained environments.
Booz Allen Hamilton has been a trusted partner in space programmes for over 60 years, serving defence, intelligence and civil agencies across the federal government. The firm leverages its expertise in mission understanding, data solutions, and systems engineering across key mission areas, including Space Domain Awareness, Advanced Ground Systems, and Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Earth Observation. This deployment supports Booz Allen’s AI mission: “humans build it, humans power it, and humans thrive from it.”
Add Comment