Silicon Valley’s aspirations are extending beyond our planet as major tech companies investigate a future where AI data centres function in orbit and eventually on the Moon. Prominent figures like Sundar Pichai, Jensen Huang, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos are reportedly leading this space race, propelled by the soaring energy demands of artificial intelligence and the increasing limitations on Earth. Reports from The Wall Street Journal indicate that firms such as Google, Amazon, Nvidia, SpaceX, and various emerging space-tech startups are swiftly advancing off-planet data infrastructure. The rationale is evident: in 2024, data centres powering AI are projected to account for about 1.5 percent of global electricity consumption, a figure expected to rise significantly.
With worldwide computing needs growing at a pace that outstrips the capacity of energy grids and land resources, the industry is posing a challenging question: Why should data centres remain confined to Earth? Google has initiated one of the most ambitious efforts with Project Suncatcher, aimed at operating AI workloads via solar-powered data centres positioned in orbit. This concept addresses two vital challenges: limitless access to solar energy in space and cooling that does not require water. Google plans to test two prototype satellites by 2027, representing one of the initial tangible steps toward extraterrestrial cloud computing. They are not isolated in this endeavor.
Smaller companies like Starcloud, Lonestar Data Holdings, and Axiom Space are also developing storage systems for orbital and lunar use. China has joined the competition, revealing a plan for a network of 12 AI-driven satellites designed to form the first orbital supercomputing constellation, called the Three-Body Computing Constellation. The idea of space-based computing is gaining momentum. As Jeff Bezos remarked earlier this year, “There is no Plan B. We must save Earth.” He has long advocated for relocating heavy industry and digital infrastructure off the planet. Bezos referred to the Moon as “a gift from the universe,” emphasizing its solar capabilities and low gravity as benefits for constructing large-scale technology systems.
His aerospace venture, Blue Origin, is actively developing vehicles that could help assemble such facilities in orbit and on the Moon’s surface. Some of these ideas are transitioning from concept to reality. Lonestar Data Holdings has confirmed it recently tested a small data centre on the Moon. The device successfully endured the landing, transmitted data, and powered down sooner than anticipated, demonstrating that computing on lunar soil is feasible. Meanwhile, Starcloud, in collaboration with Nvidia, plans to deploy a satellite equipped with a high-performance GPU, projected to become the most powerful computing system ever launched into orbit. Elon Musk plays a pivotal role in this initiative.
SpaceX has facilitated numerous early missions using its reusable rockets and is also partnering with Google on Project Suncatcher. Musk’s broader vision of enabling life on multiple planets closely aligns with establishing robust digital infrastructure beyond Earth. Nevertheless, the journey is fraught with challenges. Managing heat in a vacuum and protecting hardware from space radiation present significant engineering hurdles, as highlighted by Starcloud CEO Philip Johnston. Legal complexities are also considerable. Lonestar CEO Chris Stott notes that according to international space law, any lunar module or satellite is governed by the laws of its launching country, effectively making it an embassy in space. This raises complex issues regarding data sovereignty, cybersecurity, and regulation.
For the moment, space-based data centres are still in the experimental phase, operating as small-scale prototypes. However, the momentum is clear: as the demand for AI escalates, humanity’s next computing revolution may soon ascend beyond Earth and potentially establish a presence on the Moon.