Europe · Orbital computing demonstration program
This project focuses on orbital computing demonstration program.
EDGX's STERNA demonstration program develops onboard AI computing and offers third-party software and rented mission compute time. The operator identifies March 2026 payloads on Clustergate-2 and Out-of-the-Box. Its undated roadmap lists Out of Tern on Gracious Gloria for February 2027 and Wingman on D-Orbit ION for October 2027. These later bookings are plans, and no measured commercial capacity or uptime is established. An October 28 release reports first operational data from one March payload within two weeks, while the other awaits host commissioning. The release identifies planned 2027 Orin NX Super Mode and Morus Jetson Thor systems. Returned operational data does not establish a published AI benchmark.
EDGX · First payload operational data reported
Scope: Shared computing & storage · A shared computing or storage platform, or a program developing that infrastructure. Classification describes intended use, not operating capacity.
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Technical specifications not disclosed
Figures retain their disclosed units and scope. Launched hardware does not establish demonstrated performance; targets may change. Not disclosed means no figure in the reviewed sources.
NVIDIA Jetson technology used for STERNA. Separate planned 2027 systems identify Orin NX Super Mode and Morus based on Jetson Thor.
Manufacturer technology role. No purchase order, quantity, exclusivity, contract value or achieved AI benchmark is disclosed.
Announced 28 Oct 2026 · Evidence checked 28 Oct 2026
EDGX October 28 release (opens in a new tab)Transporter-16 launch carrying the March 2026 STERNA demonstration payloads.
Launch role is established. Direct contracting party and price are not disclosed. The ESA source establishes launch participation but does not disclose an EDGX launch contract or order. This record is excluded from contract-record totals.
Announced 31 Mar 2026 · Evidence checked 27 Oct 2026
ESA reports launch of EDGX STERNA orbital-computing demonstrator (opens in a new tab)Research participant
Program organization: European Space Agency (ESA)
Development agreementDisclosed phase budgets do not establish ESA contribution amounts.
Announced 1 Feb 2024 · Evidence checked 27 Oct 2026
EDGX details ESA-backed STERNA development and orbital-test program (opens in a new tab)Booked ION SCV hosting for Wingman, combining hyperspectral imaging, STERNA, MORUS and a relay link.
The undated EDGX mission roadmap books Wingman on D-Orbit ION SCV for October 2027. This is not a launch or benchmark result.
Announced Publication date not supplied · Evidence checked 27 Oct 2026
EDGX mission roadmap (opens in a new tab)Manual review 31 Oct 2026. Compared the October28 flight release with ESA's undated Sterna/Morus development record and existing configurations. Retained product ratings, interfaces and TRL claims as held references. March operational-data receipt, planned 2027 hardware and unresolved product lifetime targets remain separate. Primary body last observed not available. Source monitoring: unavailable. Source collection and substantive profile review are separate checks. Plans and dates may change.
EDGX official mission roadmap (opens in a new tab)Verified announcements and milestones linked to this project, newest first.
EDGX reports that one of its March 2026 STERNA payloads returned operational data within two weeks, while a second awaits satellite commissioning. The systems use NVIDIA Jetson technology. Separate 2027 missions plan STERNA with Orin NX Super Mode and Morus based on Jetson Thor. The release reports signed but unnamed prospective compute-as-a-service customers. It provides no measured AI benchmark or new financing amount.
ESA reports that EDGX's STERNA computing payload launched on Transporter-16 on March 31, 2026. Planned tests include processing performance, power consumption and radio-interference detection. EDGX's undated roadmap identifies two March payloads on Clustergate-2 and Out-of-the-Box, plus booked 2027 missions. Launch is established, not published benchmark results or proven current service availability.
EDGX announced an ESA ARTES development project for the STERNA onboard data-processing unit. It describes a six-month definition phase of about USD 335,160 (EUR 300,000) and a two-year technology phase of about USD 2,234,400 (EUR 2 million) culminating in an orbital demonstration. These are phase budgets, not disclosed ESA cash contributions. The later launch record is kept separate from this original development announcement.
