Why This Matters Space-based data centers would place data processing and storage systems for AI and other computing needs into satellites. This could reduce the land, electricity, and water needed for data centers on Earth. Several companies have begun development of data centers in space, but there are engineering and economic barriers to deployment. Key Takeaways Placing data centers in space could reduce the demand for resources from these facilities on Earth. Data centers generate excess heat, but space does not cool computing hardware efficiently. This could be a major engineering challenge. A significant increase in the number of satellites in orbit could be difficult to manage and cause collisions. The Technology What is it? Data centers house computer servers, data storage systems, and network equipment that provide digital applications and services—such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing. Space-based data centers would house similar equipment in satellites to process data in space instead of on Earth (see figure). How does it work? Most proposals for space-based data centers use satellites deployed to low Earth orbits. These orbits allow faster communication with Earth and cost less to reach than higher ones. Some low Earth orbits (e.g., sun-synchronous) could also provide satellites with…
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Data Centers in Space
Source: US GAO Reports — US Government, Public Domain