Extending Grid Computing to Remote Locations

NASA Glenn Research Center, in cooperation with NASA Ames and geologists from the University of Cincinnati and Bowling Green State University has extended the computational capabilities of the information Power Grid to remote research sites. The combination of satellite (EOS) data acquisition and the IPG processing provides geologists with the ability to identify the key mineralogical features at the research site. The underlying connectivity for this research environment is provided by the Numerical Research and Education Network (NREN) using a combination of terrestrial and mobile satellite-based networking solutions. Our approach not only speeds the process of scientific discovery, but also serves as a simple demonstration of NASA's capacity for geological classification and exploration of remote sites such as the Martian surface. The NASA Glenn Demonstrations combines satellite (EOS) data acquisition and the computational capabilities or the Information Power Grid (IPG) to provide geologists with the ability to identify key mineralogical features in near real-time of an area in study. This capability could someday allow geological classification of rocks and minerals of remote sites such as the Martian surface.