NASA looks to join the cloud, cut data centers

In an effort to cut down on data infrastructure, NASA is throwing its weight behind cloud computing services. Officials with the organization hope its new cloud computing platform, Nebula, can help reduce its need to run its own data centers.

NASA CTO Chris Kemp believes computer resources are no different than utilities. “We don't own power plants right now. We don't own other services that are provided as utilities,” he told Computerworld.

Kemp hopes cloud computing helps NASA focus on space exploration, not building infrastructures on earth. "I don't see why NASA needs to operate any infrastructure. We can build space probes, we can build deep space networks, we can stay out on the frontiers, where the American public wants us to be and not spend over $1 billion a year on it infrastructure," he said.

Federal, state and local government involvement in cloud computing has been quickly increasing. Recently, the government opened its own app store called Apps.gov, for use by federal agencies. Additionally, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced a cloud computing plan for the entire city.