what is the difference between Space-based computing and Cloud computing.

Question

Hello, I am new to the Cloud Computing world. So I yet to learn too many things about cloud computing. Yesterday, I was watching a video pod cast on space-based programming and through out the session, I felt that the whole concept of spaces sounds similar to cloud computing. After the session, I searched the web for understanding the difference between the space based computing and cloud computing. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any better answer. Hence thought of posting this question.

Can somebody help me to understand what is the difference between space based computing and cloud computing? OR How space based computing is related to cloud computing?

Answer 1

Cloud computing refers to the hosting of applications on a large data center, that allows the application to use as much of the provided computing power as needed for any given time. Different cloud computing providers (e.g. Google or Amazon) provide different APIs for the hosted applications.

Space based computing on the other hand, is not so much about the hosting, but more about the communication of components of a distributed system. The "space" is basically a centralized data channel through which distributed components publish and consume data. This is supposed to simplify distributed application concerns (transaction handling, reliable communication, etc.) when components do not need to interact directly with each other.

An application running on a cloud platform is (almost certainly) accessible via the Internet. That is not necessarily the case with space based computing.