HPE plans to conduct the first supercomputing benchmarks on the Moon using its Spaceborne Computer-4 system. The hardware will be transported to the lunar south pole via a rover, with the mission launch scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
The Spaceborne Computer-4 features 1TB of Kioxia storage, a low-power CPU, and a GPU. Its chassis is specifically engineered for lunar conditions to dissipate heat through a rover plate. Unlike previous rack-installed models used on the International Space Station, this unit is significantly miniaturized and fanless.
The testing suite includes High Performance LINPACK and High Performance Conjugate Gradients benchmarks. AI-focused tasks will cover large language model retrieval-augmented generation, vision inference, and LiDAR processing for terrain mapping and navigation. HPE also developed software to manage secure data transmission to Earth.
NASA intends to utilize the system to run its FLUID neural network, which coordinates three models trained on data from Earth, the Moon, and the ISS. Additionally, Deloitte will test its Silent Shield cybersecurity system. The rover is expected to operate for approximately 14 Earth days before entering hibernation.
