SGI allies with Intel for Linux-based NASA supercomputer

By Alun Williams

Posted on 29 Jul 2004 at 17:25

NASA has turned to Silicon Graphics and Intel to build what is described as one of the world's largest Linux-based supercomputers.

Built on a total of 10,240 Intel Itanium 2 processors, the Space Exploration Simulator will consist of 20 512-processor SGI Altix systems. And there will be 500-terabytes of data storage.

Dubbed 'Project Columbia', NASA is hoping the computing power will 'fuel scientific breakthroughs in space exploration, global warming research, and aerospace engineering'.

'For over 20 years NASA and SGI have worked very closely and very successfully to deliver a series of technological firsts,' said G. Scott Hubbard, a NASA Director. 'Project Columbia will build on the knowledge we gained from this close relationship to underpin the most ambitious missions in NASA's history. As we set our sights to the Vision for Space Exploration, we look forward to making the journey with SGI and Intel.'

According to SGI, the Altix system's globally addressable memory architecture will allow complex data sets to be more efficiently handled in memory. Specifically, it will be used to handle critical projects such as projecting the impact of human activity on weather patterns, simulating future space missions, and designing efficient space exploration vehicles.

The supercomputer, which boosts NASA's computing capacity ten-fold, will be housed at the Ames Research Centre in Silicon Valley.

See also:

Linux to Power SGI Supercomputer?