Empowering Aerospace Innovation with Cloud-Based HPC

Project Overview:

EtherealX Space, a cutting-edge aerospace company specializing in the development of advanced launch vehicles and spacecraft, encountered significant challenges with their desktop-based computing infrastructure.  As EtherealX caters to different segments of industries, and the use cases differs from industry to industry, they required high-performance compute machines to do the R&D, run simulations, and tests for stipulated period.  

These limitations hindered their ability to efficiently conduct high-performance computing (HPC) tasks and manage operational costs. Scaling the business was a challenge as the procurement cycle of these HPC machines would take months  

Additionally, they faced constraints related to the on-premise licensing model of ANSYS a 3^rd party software which is used for engineering simulations, which further increased their capex. Ethereal Space engaged Minfy to transition their operations to the cloud, specifically leveraging AWS EC2 servers, to enhance scalability, reduce costs, and ensure compliance with industry regulations.

Challenges:  

Hardware Limitations: Ethereal Space's reliance on desktop machines limited their ability to scale for HPC tasks, leading to inefficiencies and higher costs when additional resources were needed temporarily.

Licensing Constraints: Operating ANSYS on physical desktop machines imposed licensing limitations, making it difficult to efficiently share licenses across multiple environments as it can support only one physical host

Security Concerns: Operating in a highly regulated industry, Ethereal Space needed a secure and compliant cloud environment to protect sensitive data and meet stringent industry standards.

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‍Solutions:  

Infrastructure Modernization:
Minfy facilitated the migration of Ethereal Space's operations from desktop machines to a cloud-based architecture on AWS. This included deploying EC2 servers optimized for high-performance computing, enabling the company to scale their resources dynamically and meet the demands of intensive simulations and analyses. The migration allowed Ethereal Space to move away from the limitations of physical hardware, significantly enhancing their computational capabilities.

Cost Optimization:
The shift from a Capex to an Opex model through cloud adoption led to a 5x reduction in operational expenditure. By leveraging the cloud, Ethereal Space could share ANSYS licenses more efficiently across virtual machines, overcoming the constraints of their previous setup and optimizing software usage.

Security and Compliance:
Minfy created a secure AWS Landing Zone for Ethereal Space, tailored to their regulatory and operational needs. This setup featured a multi-account environment with strict security and compliance controls using AWS Config, CloudTrail, and AWS Organizations. Data protection was ensured through encryption and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), safeguarding sensitive information and enhancing security.

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Business Outcome:  

Cost Reduction: Transitioning to a cloud-based Opex model reduced Ethereal Space's capital expenditure by 5X, freeing up financial resources for other critical operations.

Scalability and Performance: The new cloud infrastructure provided the necessary scalability for HPC tasks, enabling faster, more efficient simulations and development processes.

Improved Security and Compliance: The secure AWS Landing Zone ensured compliance with industry regulations, protecting sensitive data and enhancing the company's security posture.

Faster Customer Onboarding: Overcoming HPC scalability limitations resulted in a 60% improvement in customer onboarding rates, enabling faster service delivery and support for more projects.