The scramble to launch data centers into space is heating up

A startup developing technologies to harness solar energy in space is throwing its hat in with big tech companies trying to build Earth-orbiting data centers. US-based Aetherflux announced on Tuesday that it plans to launch its first data center satellite in early 2027 — the first piece of a larger constellation of satellites it calls the “Galactic Brain.”

Technology companies face physical limits to their AI ambitions on the ground, namely the need for more space and electricity for data centers. One potential solution they’re exploring is trying to send some of these data centers into orbit, where they could be powered by solar energy around the clock.

“The race for artificial general intelligence is essentially a race for computing power, and therefore power,” says Baiju Bhatt, founder and CEO of Aetherflux — who also co-founded Robinhood — in an article. “The only problem in the room is that our current power plans simply won’t get us there fast enough.” press release. “Galactic Brain puts sunlight next to silicon and bypasses the entire power grid.”

Aetherflux faces competition from Google, Blue Origin and SpaceX, which is also studying the feasibility of satellites for orbiting data centers. These units will be equipped with photovoltaic panels and will be able to run on solar energy without having to deal with sunset. Aetherflux says its technology builds on its existing efforts to deploy capable satellites Solar beam down to the ground By laser.

There are other challenges that Aetherflux and its competitors will face before data centers can start orbiting the Earth. Although launch costs have come down over the years, getting these things up and running in space is still expensive. They will also have to ensure that AI chips can withstand and avoid high radiation Collisions With other satellites in orbit as well Space becomes more crowded.