The systems imagined by Hajimiri handle data at a slower pace compared to those on Earth, are subjected to continuous radiation, and face difficulties with obsolescence due to challenging repairs or updates. He suggests that space data centers could become a reality in the future but is unsure when that might happen. “It could be feasible in a few years,” he remarked, questioning their functionality and cost-effectiveness.
The idea of orbiting data centers isn’t merely fantasy from technology enthusiasts or scholars. Even officials in municipalities where corporations like Amazon intend to establish data centers are contemplating it. Tucson, Arizona, councilmember Nikki Lee emphasized their potential during an August meeting, where the council unanimously turned down a proposed data center.
“Many assert that data centers don’t belong in the desert,” Lee expressed. Nevertheless, if it’s a national concern, the emphasis should be on “federal R&D for space-oriented data centers. It may sound like science fiction, but it’s genuinely occurring.”
While accurate, this is occurring on an experimental basis, not an industrial one. A startup called Starcloud planned to launch a satellite equipped with Nvidia chips in August, but the launch was postponed. Lonestar Data Systems successfully landed a mini data center on the moon but encountered failure when the lander toppled over. Further launches are in the pipeline. Harvard economist Matthew Weinzierl pointed out the challenge of forecasting economic viability. “Space-based data centers may have specialized applications such as processing space-related data and for national security,” he mentioned. To compete with terrestrial centers, they need to perform well on cost and service standards.
At present, establishing a data center in space is more expensive than in Virginia’s Data Center Valley, where power demand could potentially double if left unchecked. Earth is still the less expensive option, so companies focused on profit prefer expanding on terra firma.
Nonetheless, OpenAI and similar entities might explore space due to lower regulatory hurdles. Constructing facilities on Earth necessitates permits and may encounter local resistance regarding water consumption, electricity, or environmental ramifications. In space, there are no nearby residents to raise objections, stated Michelle Hanlon, a political scientist and attorney. “If a US business wishes to set up data centers in space, the sooner it happens, the better, before Congress decides to impose regulations.”
