The notion of launching data centers into space is gaining momentum, with tech giants like SpaceX and Starcloud pushing the boundaries of what's thought possible. But as the idea gains traction, experts are sounding a cautionary note: putting giant servers in orbit is a far more complex and expensive endeavor than building them on Earth.
Those who advocate for orbital data centers point to the benefits of free ambient cooling and constant access to solar power. Space is indeed cold, while the sun provides an endless supply of energy. But critics argue that it's not as simple as just beaming information back down to Earth. The biggest hurdle is the sheer cost of launching and maintaining a massive satellite in orbit.
"It's nowhere near this simple," says Matthew Buckley, a theoretical physicist at Rutgers University. "You're going to have to spend incredible amounts of money to keep them from melting. And you could solve that problem much easier by not launching them into space."
The engineering problems are compounded by the challenges of communicating between space and Earth. Even Starlink's broadband satellites are slow compared to terrestrial data centers, which is a major concern for experts.
"It's just one of many extreme challenges to overcome," says Alan George, chair of the University of Pittsburgh electrical and computer engineering department. "Bold claims are being made based upon technologies that don't yet exist."
While some experts believe that orbital data centers could solve complex problems, others argue that the motivation is financial rather than scientific. SpaceX's plans for orbiting data centers have been linked to an initial public offering, which could potentially boost share prices.
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Those who advocate for orbital data centers point to the benefits of free ambient cooling and constant access to solar power. Space is indeed cold, while the sun provides an endless supply of energy. But critics argue that it's not as simple as just beaming information back down to Earth. The biggest hurdle is the sheer cost of launching and maintaining a massive satellite in orbit.
"It's nowhere near this simple," says Matthew Buckley, a theoretical physicist at Rutgers University. "You're going to have to spend incredible amounts of money to keep them from melting. And you could solve that problem much easier by not launching them into space."
The engineering problems are compounded by the challenges of communicating between space and Earth. Even Starlink's broadband satellites are slow compared to terrestrial data centers, which is a major concern for experts.
"It's just one of many extreme challenges to overcome," says Alan George, chair of the University of Pittsburgh electrical and computer engineering department. "Bold claims are being made based upon technologies that don't yet exist."
While some experts believe that orbital data centers could solve complex problems, others argue that the motivation is financial rather than scientific. SpaceX's plans for orbiting data centers have been linked to an initial public offering, which could potentially boost share prices.
The Intercept has a mission to cover the authoritarian takeover of the US government by Donald Trump, and your support is crucial in our fight for press freedom.
think it's crazy expensive but not entirely impossible lol what if we can make it work tho? 
free cooling sounds amazing but like Alan said the engineering problems are real 
they need to figure out how to communicate with space stuff without lagging too much 
and the cost of launching satellites is insane 
guess we'll just have to wait and see if it's worth it 
. The costs are through the roof, and let's be real, who can afford that kinda cash 
.
like what's wrong with just building more data centers on earth? didn't we learn from those old computer rooms that were super hot and noisy 
and now ppl want to put giant servers in SPACE? 
... how much money are we talking about here tho? billions or trillions 
People think launching data centers into space is just a cool idea because it's free cooling and solar power... but no one's actually thought this through, fam 
! I mean, Matthew Buckley, the theoretical physicist, is totally right - we're talking about a massive satellite in orbit here, not some magic genie that can just solve all our problems with a few bucks 
It's like, come on, guys, this isn't just a tech experiment, it's like investing in a private space station 
. It's all about the Benjamins, am I right? Money over science? Not cool, tech bros 
.
And don't even get me started on the cost 
It's not as simple as just having a constant source of energy. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I think we need to take a step back and think this through... or at least make sure we're doing it for the right reasons 
I'm all for innovation and pushing boundaries, but let's make sure we're thinking about the bigger picture here...
. First of all, have you seen the cost of launching something into space? Like, what even is the point? Can't we just invest in better tech for our servers here on Earth? 
And don't even get me started on how hard it must be to communicate with satellites that are lightyears away from us... it's like trying to have a conversation with someone who's not speaking your language 
. I'm just not sure if the pros really outweigh the cons here 
. I love the idea of free cooling and solar power, but have you seen the prices of launching a satellite into orbit?! 
. Let's be real, this is more about the Benjamins than science 
. Maybe we should focus on making our current data centers better before we start floating stuff in space? 
but seriously what about the internet connectivity issues? like if it takes forever to send data back down to earth wouldnt that kinda defeat the purpose of having a data center in space? 