Orbital files plans for 100,000 orbital data centers, aiming to bring 10 gigawatts of computing power from space to meet rising AI demand. This ambitious project, led by Orbital, a five-month-old startup, has sparked excitement and competition in the space industry. With a focus on low Earth orbit, Orbital plans to deploy 100-kilowatt-class satellites, each with solar arrays and radiators spanning around 100 meters and a dry mass of 1.5-2.5 metric tons. The primary data path will rely on optical intersatellite links with third-party constellations, such as SpaceX's Starlink.
Orbital's CEO, Euwyn Poon, an electric scooter entrepreneur with a background in micromobility, sees this venture as a natural evolution. He draws parallels between building large fleets of electric scooters and the challenge of managing large constellations in space. Poon's experience in manufacturing and his team's expertise from SpaceX, Amazon, and Northrop Grumman position Orbital to tackle the complex task of designing and manufacturing these satellites.
One of the key challenges, according to Poon, is the launch process. The rest of the process, he argues, relies on first principles physics and manufacturing. While the complexity of operating in a vacuum and shielding against radiation is acknowledged, Poon believes it is a solvable problem. The team's focus on design for manufacturability and managing vendors and supply chains is crucial to the project's success.
The orbital data center market is still relatively sparse, but Poon emphasizes the importance of coordination among large systems. He envisions a future where these constellations coexist harmoniously, and he is taking a proactive approach to ensure that Orbital's plans align with the broader space management landscape.
As Orbital prepares for its demonstration mission in 2027 and the launch of its first purpose-built orbital compute satellite, Orbital-1, in 2028, the company is also exploring collaboration opportunities. The potential for design changes and improvements across successive generations of satellites could lead to significant gains in efficiency and profitability, similar to what Spin experienced with electric scooters.
In conclusion, Orbital's plans for 100,000 orbital data centers are a bold move in the space industry, addressing the growing demand for AI computing power. With a strong team, manufacturing expertise, and a focus on collaboration, Orbital is poised to make a significant impact on the future of space-based data centers.
