Plans to place data centers in orbit and on the moon

It seems to be something of a science fiction movie, but Stephen Isel is sure that his company will one day open a data center on the moon.

“The way we see is that by placing the data center in space, you are really providing unparalleled safety,” says Lonestar Data Holdings.

Last month, the Florida -based company claimed its headquarters It was successfully tested A small data center in the size of a beginner book, who rides to the moon on ATHena Lunar Lander from the U.S. space exploration company in the United States. This, in turn, was launched by an Elon Musk’s Spacex missile.

Data centers are widespread warehouses that range from computers that store and process the data used by websites, companies and governments.

Lonestar says that their placing on the moon will provide customers with safe and reliable data, while taking advantage of unlimited solar energy to operate it.

Although space -based data centers may seem far -fetched, it is an idea that has already begun to take off.

Part of the reason is to evaluate the demand and the difficulty of finding appropriate sites on the ground.

The constant use of artificial intelligence computing (AI) has witnessed a huge increase in the amount of data that must be stored and processed around the world.

As a result, the need for data centers increased as well, with an increase in annual demand Between 19 % and 22 % By 2030, according to global administration consultants McKinsey.

New facilities end all the time – but it is difficult to find places to place them. Large and sprawling data centers, use huge amounts of energy and water for cooling.

And increasingly they do not want to build them near.

Putting data centers in space – either in orbit around the Earth, or on the moon – means theory, it cannot cause much harm. There is an unlimited or less energy available from the sun, for example, and there are no neighbors who complain of environmental effects.

Not only that, space -based data centers can specialize in spacecraft services and other space facilities, while transferring data from space to space faster than Earth.

Last summer, a feasibility study funded by the European Commission published in orbits the results of its results.

The ALENIA Space reported by the ALENIA Space – a joint project between the French and Italian space groups Thales and Leonardo – has published its results.

He decided to publish data centers in space “It can turn the European digital scene,” Be “more convenient for the environment”.

Thales ALENIA SPACE is the construction of a constellation of 13 satellites measuring 200 meters at 80 meters, with a total data processing power of about 10 megawatts (MW). This is equivalent to a medium -sized data center, with about 5,000 sermons.

Based on the techniques that already exist or under development, satellites will be assembled in orbit.

As for space data centers, Damien Dumestier says that for space data centers to be more convenient to the environment than those on the ground on the ground, it will be necessary to make missile launchers less empty 10 times less on their life courses, “says Ascending Project Architect in Thales ALENIA Space. He says this seems possible.

“But in order to cover the developments of new technology and the productive capacity to take advantage of the size, we have to consider the ability of a larger system, about 200 megawatts, and this means 200 of the large infrastructure we have and 200 launch.”

“The main question is when it is ready -made air -conditioned bomber. Based on investment and decisions to be taken, this can be done for 2030 or 2035, which means commercial feasibility before 2037.”

However, despite this optimism from companies aimed at developing technology, says Dr. Dominico Vecinza, associate professor of smart systems and data science at the University of Angela Roskin in the United Kingdom, says there are many great obstacles before space -based database is an application suggestion.

“Even with the contribution and developments of companies like Spacex, the launch of the orbit devices is still very expensive,” he says. “Every kilogram is sent in space costs thousands of dollars.

“Space -based data centers will not only require data equipment, but also to the infrastructure to protect and cool it. They all add weight and complexity.”

Equipment cooling will be a special problem, because although the space is cold, traditional cooling systems do not work without weight.

Meanwhile, the space weather can be damaged by electronics, while the increasing amount of space debris endangered the physical devices.

“Fixing problems in orbit is far from clarity. Even with robots and automation, there are limits to what can be repaired remotely.”

“The failure of the large devices may require an expensive human task, which may extend to the period of stopping for weeks or months.”

However, companies like Lonestar are very confident, and they say they respond to the request. “We will not do it if customers do not ask us to do so,” says Scott.

Its goal is to place a small orbit data center around the moon in 2027. At the same time, other companies hope to reach there slightly faster, such as Washington -based Starcloud, which is scheduled to launch a satellite -based data center next month, and start commercial operations in mid -2016.

Mr. Eidele of Lonestar says that space -based facilities provide more safety for governments and companies because their data does not need to be directed through ground networks. Instead, information can be filtered directly from space to a dedicated ground station.

“It is like a cellar in the back of the bank,” he says. “You don’t have to open it every day, but there is to provide an additional safety scale, and the distance from Earth to the moon offers that – it is very difficult to penetrate it, and more difficult to reach it.”

The distance to the moon means that the data takes about a second and a half to reach the Earth – this does not concern some applications, such as storing data in the long run and backup.

Meanwhile, the founder of Lonestar and CEO Chris Stot says, says the institution -based databases can help meet the regulations about data sovereignty – the need to keep people’s data in the country of origin.

He says: “Under the space law, this electronics fund is literally under the License or State Launch Law – it is an actual embassy in space,” he says.

Lonestar has already has clients lining up, including Florida and the government of Man.