In some respects, quantum computing advancements are analogous to the space race: massive investment by large corporations in cutting-edge technologies aimed to propel mankind into the future.
With this new relationship between NASA and Microsoft, the US space agency hopes to be able to coordinate its spacecraft more efficiently and effectively. What is the end goal? Reducing the transmission time from hours to minutes, propelled by quantum technologies.
“As NASA launches more frequent and complex missions into space, managing communications with the growing number of spacecraft is becoming increasingly challenging,” says Microsoft in a blog post. “NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has turned to Azure Quantum to explore ways to communicate more efficiently with spacecraft exploring our solar system and beyond.”
Quantum rules the waves
Even in the early stages, there are indicators of progress. Microsoft has reported a schedule latency of 16 minutes, a far cry from the up to 2 hours has previously reported by NASA. For example, NASA might construct a variety of timetables with an expanded rollout, which would allow the agency to become more flexible.
As the relationship advances and quantum technology is applied to one of space travel’s lesser-known stumbling blocks, we should expect to hear more from Microsoft. Rather than relying on the binary system in use today, quantum technology introduces new states across inputs, enabling them to be both ones as well as zero at the same time.
The Outcome: This example indicates that computation is far faster, and quantum computing research is still in its infancy. Comparing a system with 256GB of RAM to one with 32KB of RAM now is like comparing apples to oranges when Computers had 32KB of RAM.
How will Microsoft help NASA?
According to Microsoft, The Deep Space Network (DSN) is a worldwide network of enormous radio antennas situated in California, Spain, & Australia that permits constant connection with spacecraft while the planet spins.
Requests for the usage of DSN antennas from space missions are scheduled by spacecraft. However, there is a slew of restrictions attached to this mode of communication. There are hundreds of requests every week while each spacecraft is viewable to the antenna, on top of the high processing demands these missions place on the system.
Because of this, future missions, such as Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover as well as James Webb Space Telescope, will put an even greater strain on DSN resources. Microsoft’s quantum computing skills come into play here.
Microsoft’s Azure Quantum crew has created a solution to JPL’s scheduling issue “with a limited feature set with the eventual goal to incorporate a broader set of requirements.” To put it another way, this technology will assist to expedite communication between spacecraft and their external antennas in orbit.
There is a slew of big players in the arena, from IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon to the United States, China, and numerous startups, governments, and large corporations, all trying to get a leg up on the next surge of computing.
