SGI to build 500 terabyte supercomputer for NASA

Silicon Graphics (SGI) has been chosen by NASA to assemble a 500-terabyte supercomputer based on more than 10,000 Intel Itaniums. The configuration, for applications in space exploration, global warming research and aerospace engineering, will be one of the world's largest Linux OS-based supercomputers.

Called Project Columbia, NASA's Advanced Supercomputing Facility will experience a ten-fold increase through the project. The integrated 512-processor SGI Altix systems -- there will be 20 separate installations -- will be called the Space Exploration Simulator.