Definition: space data centers

A satellite data center for AI processing. The major advantage is unlimited solar energy. Google, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Starcloud, Aetherflux and China Aerospace and Technology are just some of approximately 30 companies planning data centers in space. Elon Musk (SpaceX) plans to launch the first of a million satellites in 2028. See Project Suncatcher and Starcloud.

Massive Problems to Overcome
As Anastasi in Tech says, "it's time to put the clouds in the cloud." However, it is not simple. GPUs need shielding from radiation and a huge array of panels is necessary due to the electricity required. Although space is cold, satellites fly in a vacuum, and there is no air to carry heat away. Radiators the size of football fields must be used, adding massive weight and cost to launching.

As the low earth orbit (LEO) satellites orbit the earth, there is a 300-degree temperature swing from 120 degrees to minus 170. Although the electronics are wrapped in insulation combined with heaters, there is no telling how thermal stress will affect equipment over time.

In addition, transmitting signals to and from earth at the rate required can be problematic due to atmospheric interference. All these issues have been overcome with current satellite systems, but putting a hyperscale data center in orbit is another story. Although launch costs are coming down all the time, the sheer volume of equipment in an orbital data center is a massive undertaking. In addition, components in earth-based data centers fail from time to time, but an engineer simply walks in and replaces a module.

Although SpaceX's major advantage is that it is a rocket company, engineers claim data centers in space are prone to so many problems that they are just not practical, especially at the size and scale Elon Musk and others are planning. Stay tuned!

Data Centers on the Moon?
A proposed option is moon orbit because solar panels would get sunlight all the time. However, because of solar storms, the chips must be hardened and shielded, which can cost considerably more than regular chips. In addition, state-of-the-art chips might be vulnerable, and if older chips are used, performance slows. In addition, moon dust will gradually degrade the hardware, and to add more misery, because the moon gets 14 days of sunlight and 14 days of darkness, massive battery storage would be required. In addition, the moon's temperature ranges from 120 degrees Celsius to minus 130. Another problem is data transmission between the earth and the moon takes nearly three seconds compared with up to 50 milliseconds from earth-orbital satellites, and it can also cost up to 20 times more to send equipment to the moon.

Satellite Data Centers

Connecting thousands of satellites together to form a giant AI data center is no simple feat, but the benefits are pitched as being worth it.