Space-based data centers


"Last year, France-based Thales Alenia Space, which led a European Commission-funded study into the feasibility of ASCEND, found that sending data centers to space to take advantage of continuous solar energy could offer 'a more eco-friendly and sovereign solution for hosting and processing data.' But that would be contingent on technological advancements in several areas, said Xavier Roser of Thales Alenia Space.

"While the total emissions from rocket launches are currently only a fraction of those from the aviation industry, rockets release pollutants at higher altitudes, where they last longer.

"The ASCEND study estimated that for space data centers to effectively reduce carbon emissions compared to their terrestrial counterparts would require the development of a launcher that emits 10 times less carbon over its lifecycle than current ones. 

"It’s not clear when or if such a rocket may be in development. SpaceX, which has revolutionized the cost of rockets with its fleet of Falcon launch vehicles, has not revealed any plans to debut a more environmentally friendly rocket design."



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