United States · Space-hardened server research and development
Nebula Nimbus Orbital-Computing R&D
This project focuses on space-hardened server research and development.
Nebula Compute is developing its Nimbus space-hardened server system for onboard AI and secure data processing. The US SBIR registry records a 2025 USAF Direct-to-Phase II award of $1,248,207, contract FA8649-25-P-0445. The abstract proposes representative-environment testing toward TRL 6 from TRL 4. An orbital deployment or operating commercial data center is not established.
Nebula Compute, Inc. · Funded Phase II development
Scope: Enabling research · A named program validates computing hardware, software or infrastructure. No shared service platform is established.
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.
PROJECT RELATIONSHIPS
Suppliers & project partners
IBM
Strategic partner
Program organization: Nebula Compute, Inc.
Preliminary agreement
Memorandum to pursue Red Hat cloud capabilities in orbit, with later reseller authorization described in the SBIR award abstract.
The abstract identifies a 2022 MOU, not an executed orbital service, hardware supply order or launch result. Exact announcement day is undisclosed.
Announced Publication date not supplied · Evidence checked 26 Oct 2026
Compute & storage · Research & feasibility studies
USAF SBIR Direct-to-Phase II R&D award FA8649-25-P-0445 for Nimbus secure orbital edge computing and representative-environment validation.
The registry identifies a 2025 award with a 29 August 2025 start and 1 June 2027 end. Publication day is unknown. The earlier 2023 AFWERX award remains a separate record. TRL 6 is a development target.
USD 1,248,207 · SBIR registry total award amount for contract FA8649-25-P-0445
Announced Publication date not supplied · Evidence checked 20 Oct 2026
Publish the contracted testing and validation results. The registry lists an award end date of 1 June 2027, not a spacecraft launch date.
Manual review 30 Oct 2026. Compared the complete USAF award abstract, funding and existing partner records. Added server and QRNG architecture and qualified radiation-test history. Phase II validation and orbital deployment remain unproven. Primary body last observed not available. Source monitoring: unavailable. Source collection and substantive profile review are separate checks. Plans and dates may change.
