It may seem like a science fiction scenario, but large technology companies are doing a bold venture: the installation of data centrals outside the Earth. By the Moon Until the orbit of our planet, the struggle for energy, security and storage of data seems to be a space dimensions.
Looks like a tape scene, but the Steven Eizel of Lonestar Data Holdings He is sure that one day his company will open a data centre … on the Moon. ‘By placing a data center in space, you offer unparalleled security’he says.
Last month, the company from Florida announced that it has been able to successfully test a tiny Data Center, in the size of a coarse book, which traveled to the Moon with the American Intuitive Machines athena. The rocket had been launched by its SpaceX Elon Musk.
But what are data centers? The Data Centres, are huge infrastructure that processes and store data from governments, businesses and websites. Something like warehouses full of computers.
However they face Serious challenges on Earth: Lack of space, energy requirements, cooling and reactions from local communities. Continuous development of artificial intelligence launches the needs worldwide, with predictions showing increased demand for data centrals by 19 – 22% each year by 2030.
New centers are constantly opening up, but it is becoming more and more difficult to find suitable spaces.
Are large, consume huge amounts of energy and water for cooling – And many residents do not want them close to their neighborhoods.
So the idea to be placed in space – either in orbit around the Earth or on the Moon – It sounds more and more attractive. There is unlimited solar energyand no neighbor will complain about the environmental impact.
At the same time, a new market opens: data processing for space missions and spaceships.
Last summer, a study funded by Kimission explored the idea of data centres.
In Europe, Thales Alenia Space – Thales and Leonardo Consortium – envisions a network of 13 satellites with a total power 5.000 servers. Satellites will be assembled in orbit, using technology that exists or develops.
THE Architect of the project, Damien Dimostier, He says that to be the data centres in space real more eco -friendly than the respectives in the earth, The launch rockets should become 10 times less polluting throughout their life cycle. He adds, however, that this seems possible.
“We will need to reach a total power of about 200 Megawatt, which means 200 of our planned space infrastructure and 200 launches,” explains.
“With the right investments, this may be ready by 2035, with commercial use before 2037.”
However space technology remains accurate and full of challenges. “Equipping equipment remains expensive – every kilo costs thousands of dollars,” says Dr. Domenico Vitsinsins of the British Anglia Ruskin University. In addition, the absence of gravity makes cooling difficult, space weather threatens electronics, while space garbage increases the risk of collision.
“The repair of equipment in orbit is extremely complicated. A serious damage may require manned mission, with delays that may reach weeks or even months, ”he notes.
Despite the difficulties, companies like Lonestar continue with confidence. Its next goal is to orbit around the Moon a small data centre in 2027. Competitors, such as Starcloud from Washington, intend to start earlier – even in 2026.
For Steven Eizel, distance is an advantage: “It’s like the safes on the back of a bank. You don’t open them every day, but they give you complete security. The distance makes access more difficult – and even more complicated. “
The distance from the Moon means that data takes about a second and a half seconds to reach Earth-which does not affect applications such as long-term storage or back-up.
Lonestar’s founder and chief executive, Chris Scott, adds that space centes can help organizations comply with regulations on “data dominance” – the requirement to save data within their country.
“Under space law, equipment is literally subject to the law of the country that granted the launch license – it is like an embassy in space,” he says.
The company has already secured customers waiting, such as the state of Florida and the Isle of Man government.
Information from BBC