Innovation
Data Centers Are Racing to Space Faster Than Regulations Can Follow
Six American companies and a Chinese firm have expressed interest in building orbital data centers over the past month, driven by AI's insatiable demand for computing power. But experts warn the move could shift critical digital infrastructure beyond the reach of national laws.
Key Takeaways
- Six US companies and one Chinese firm plan to build data centers in orbit
- Space offers unlimited cooling, solar power, and freedom from land constraints for AI workloads
- Current space law was not designed for commercial computing infrastructure in orbit
- Developing nations could become more dependent on a few companies for critical digital infrastructure
- US-China space competition adds geopolitical stakes to orbital computing
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