NASA · NASA-867 · record R0469

Space Grade Linux

National Aeronautics and Space Administration · GSFC: Goddard Space Flight Center

Overview

Development stage: In development or acquisitionSource: a) Pre-deployment – The use case is in a development or acquisition status.
High-impact designation: Not high-impactSource: c) Not high-impact
Impact justification: Not reported
Start date: Not reported
Withheld from public reporting: NoSource: a) No

Mission

Topic area: Science
Operational functions: No function tag matched Derived by keyword rules; see methodology

Problem the AI is intended to solve

Current methodologies to deploy edge AI on spacecraft face a critical cost barrier due in part by reliance on traditional real-time operating systems. The solution lies in adopting Linux, the industry standard for edge AI deployments, offering unmatched performance, compatibility, and (AI) software ecosystem. Linux infrastructure for mission adoption however is lacking. Space Grade Linux addresses this by developing a Linux distribution tailor made for spacecraft, improving support for flight software frameworks, and establishing open-source components. In addition, this allows Space Grade Linux to accelerate development, promote code-reuse, and facilitate industry collaboration crucial to remaining competitive in the rapidly evolving field of AI.

Expected benefits

Space Grade Linux reduces development cost of spacecraft software by allowing missions to tap into state-of-the-art AI software and hardware that would be otherwise unavailable or cost prohibitive to develop for traditional real-time operating systems. Open-source components in Space Grade Linux will also directly benefit the development of safety critical systems in other industries, such as robotics, medical devices, aerospace, and automotive.

System outputs

Not reported

Technology

AI classification: Other
System name(s): Not reported
Custom-developed code: Not reported
Public source code: Not reported

Sourcing

How it was built: Not reported
Vendor (as reported): Not reported
Vendors (standardized): None on the standard list

A vendor is the supplier named by the agency. It does not identify the underlying model or AI technology.

Data and privacy

Involves PII: Not reported
Privacy Impact Assessment: Not reported
Authorization to Operate: Not reported
Demographic features: Not reported
Training and evaluation data: Not reported
Federal Data Catalog: Not reported

Governance

0 of 8 minimum-practice questions answered. A blank answer means the agency reported nothing; it does not mean the practice is absent.

Pre-deployment testingNo answer reported

AI impact assessmentNo answer reported

Independent reviewNo answer reported

Ongoing monitoringNo answer reported

Operator trainingNo answer reported

Fail-safeNo answer reported

Appeal processNo answer reported

User and public consultationNo answer reported

Potential impacts and how they were identified

Not reported