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MiTAC Computex 2026 Booth Tour: Diamond Cooling, 52U Racks, and More

28 d ago

At HPE Discover 2026, HPE unveiled the Spaceborne Computer 4, a compact computing module destined for the lunar surface. Unlike previous iterations that served the International Space Station (ISS), this unit will be part of the Astrolab FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform (FLIP) lander, launching later this year (likely aboard SpaceX). The module is designed to operate on the moon, enabling local decision-making and running large language models (LLMs) using a low-power CPU and GPU. This is necessary because communication latency between Earth and the moon is too high for real-time control. The system features a space radiator for cooling (since fans are ineffective on the moon) and uses a Kioxia BG-series M.2 SSD for storage. These are standard commercial SSDs, similar to those found in lightweight mini PCs, chosen for their proven reliability in space (Kioxia has been testing NAND in orbit since Spaceborne-1) and minimal weight—critical for lunar payloads. The DRAM-less design further reduces mass. The same SSD technology has already been validated for space use by HPE and Kioxia. In summary, the HPE Spaceborne Computer 4 brings commercial-grade, low-power compute and storage to the moon, enabling autonomous LLM inference via a tiny consumer SSD, with launch expected later this year.