Citrix XenDesktop Helps NASA Astronauts on the ISS Keep in Touch with Family and Friends

Online, April 8, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Citrix has announced that NASA has incorporated its Citrix XenDesktop with high-definition HDX technology into its recently launched Crew-supported LAN, enabling astronauts to have direct and secure access to familiar desktop applications and websites anywhere, even from outer space. In a way, it will help to ease isolation of astronauts since they can get in touch with their family and friends on the ground.

Virtual desktops from Citrix XenDesktop and WAN optimization technology from Citrix Branch Repeater make reliable, secure and simple communications. The system was firstly used last month by Expedition 22 Flight Engineer T.J. Creamer who updated his information to his twitter account from space without assistance. Previously, Tweets had to be emailed to ground personnel first for limited bandwidth and high latency before they could be sent to twitter. Now astronauts only need to connect their laptops to a power source and can have direct and secure access to any application, including personal communication tools such as Twitter.

With Citrix XenDesktop, virtual desktops are managed and secured centrally in the data center on the ground, and can be accessed by ISS crew using laptops on the space station.

With Citrix Branch Repeater, virtual desktops and applications that are sent to ISS crew are optimized, significantly reducing bandwidth requirements and enhancing high-latency satellite communication.

"We are extremely proud to be partnering with NASA to enable the ultimate virtual desktop solution over high latency satellite connection," said Tom Simmons, area vice president, Public Sector, for Citrix. "We are pleased to play a role in making the distance between the astronauts on the ISS and those of us on the ground just a little shorter. With this project we've proven that our desktop virtualization solutions can deliver desktops to anyone, anywhere, anytime, even under the most unique and challenging conditions."