Citrix Systems has announced that NASA has incorporated CitrixR XenDesktopT with high-definition HDXT technology into the recently launched Crew Support LAN, which provides astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) with direct, private access to familiar desktop applications and websites from any location, including outer space. The project is part of a broader effort to enhance the quality of life of astronauts during long-duration missions by helping to ease the isolation associated with life in a closed environment.
With XenDesktop, virtual desktops are managed and secured centrally in the datacenter located on the ground and can be accessed by the ISS crew using laptops located on the space station. Previously, limited bandwidth and significant latency meant that Tweets had to be emailed to the ground and shared manually with ground personnel before they could be sent to the astronaut's family members. The new desktop virtualization solution gives the ISS crew unprecedented, direct access to vital personal communications tools such as Twitter and the ability to browse the web, while mitigating the existing latency of network communication from space.
The system was first used last month by Expedition 22 Flight Engineer T.J.
Tom Simmons, Area Vice-President, Public Sector, Citrix, said, "We are pleased to play a role in making the distance between the astronauts on the ISS and those of us on the ground just a little shorter. With this project, we have proven that our desktop virtualization solutions can deliver desktops to anyone, anywhere, anytime, even under the most unique and challenging conditions."
