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Data centers are huge, energy-hungry, and often criticized for their significant environmental impact.
However, what if we could significantly address these issues by moving these data centers tospace?
This sci-fi idea could be real sooner than you might think.
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This results in substantial CO2 emissions, contributing to the global climate crisis.
Energy Efficiency
In space, solar power is not only abundant but also more efficient.
On Earth, sunlight is diffused and absorbed by the atmosphere, reducing the energy that reaches solar panels.
Once established, space data centers' maintenance and energy costs could be significantly lower than their terrestrial counterparts.
Companies likeSpaceXare consistently working on technologies that make space launches cheaper and more reliable.
In space, the dynamics of heat management change drastically.
Although the vacuum of space is an excellent insulator, it allows for heat dissipation through radiation.
This could mean faster data transmission times between space-based data centers and their earthbound users.
Additionally, data transmitted through space is also potentially more secure.
Intercepting laser-based point-to-point communication between data centers in orbit would pose an even greater challenge.
To the Moon?
So, are we really about to move our data centers off Earth and into the cosmos?
The idea might not be as far-fetched as it sounds.
This initiative aims to deliver space-based cloud services onboard Axiom Space’s space stations.
At the same time, IBM is developing apartnership with Sierra Spaceto create a space computing infrastructure.
Related:What Is Starlink Internet, and Should You Use It?
