In a dramatic turn of events, corporate players are looking to the future and experimenting with the possibility of data centres in orbit and on the Moon. This initiative aims to enhance data security for governments and businesses, reduce environmental impact, and meet the growing demand for digital infrastructure. Lonestar’s part in this endeavor is key. The state of Florida and the government of the Isle of Man are already among their first clients, testament to a huge appetite for this new, more flexible model.
Lonestar’s Chief Executive Chris Stott underlines the importance of data sovereignty in this brave new world. “Under space law, that box of electronics is literally under the law of the licensing or launching state – it is an actual embassy in space,” he stated, highlighting the legal advantages of placing data centres beyond terrestrial borders. The firm ultimately sees deploying a miniature data center to be constantly orbiting the Moon by 2027. It will use solar energy to power the system and ensure solar data is processed consistently and securely.
Thales Alenia Space’s Ascend report, released last summer. It’s the story of how space-based data centres will revolutionise Europe’s digital ecosystem. The white paper was produced by French and Italian aerospace giants Thales and Leonardo. Most importantly, it foresees that these facilities might be “greener” than comparable ground-based alternatives. The report envisions a system of 13 satellites in a constellation. Combined, they’ll span 200m x 80m and have a combined data processing capacity of roughly 10 megawatts (MW).
Stephen Eisele of Lonestar, operators of one of these space-based facilities, discusses the security advantages of such space-based facilities. “The way we see it is that by putting the data centre in space, you’re really offering unparalleled security,” he said. Eisele goes into more detail about the physical challenges hackers would encounter trying to break into data stored in orbit. “It’s like having the vaults at the back of the bank,” he noted. So maybe you don’t need to crack it open every day, but if you do want that additional measure of security, that distance from the Earth to the Moon provides just that — it’s that much harder to hack, that much harder to get to.
This rush to build new data centres is being fueled by an unsustainable boom in the demand for digital services. According to global management consultants McKinsey, annual demand for data centres is expected to increase by 19% to 22% annually through 2030. As businesses and governments seek more secure and efficient ways to manage their data, space-based solutions offer a promising avenue.
As exciting as they are, launching hardware into space is still a costly project. As Dr. Domenico Vicinanza explains, even with the advances made by companies such as SpaceX, the costs involved are still exorbitant. “Even with the contribution and advancements of companies like SpaceX, launching hardware into orbit remains extremely expensive,” he said. With the cost of each kilogram sent into space often running into the thousands of dollars, this represents a serious barrier to entry.
The intricacies involved in operating space-based facilities presents difficulties. Dr. Vicinanza notes, “Space-based data centres would require not only the data equipment but the infrastructure to protect, power, and cool them. All of which add up in weight and complexity.” The first and most basic is that he warns what can be repaired in orbit is difficult to repair. Further, even with robotics and automation, limitations remain. “A big hardware failure might necessitate a costly human mission, potentially making downtime stretch for weeks or months,” he added.
In order for these projects to really live up to their promise of being green, fast alternatives to current ground-based options, improvements in rocket technology are needed. Damien Dumestier, Ascend project architect at Thales Alenia Space, states that rocket launchers must become ten times less emissive over their lifecycles to meet eco-friendly standards.
As daunting as these hurdles may seem, companies like Lonestar are already doing it. Lonestar recently scored a major breakthrough when he tested a prototype data center the size of an old-school hardback book. This cutting edge technology flew to the Moon on Intuitive Machines’ Athena Lunar Lander. This successful test bodes well for making space-based data processing a reality.
Starcloud, a hardware startup hailing from Washington State, will deploy its news satellite-based data center next month. They still intend to begin commercial operations by the middle of 2026. The strong interest in attendance from consulting firms, start-ups and other entrepreneurial companies indicates that the idea of a common space-based data infrastructure is resonating.