Building data centers in space – with Philip Johnston

Abstract

This talk explores an innovative approach to overcoming the energy and scalability challenges of powering the next generation of AI training infrastructures by moving data centers from Earth into orbit. As global energy demand surges due to rapid advances in AI and widespread electrification, traditional terrestrial data centers face mounting obstacles—high operating costs, cooling inefficiencies, and lengthy permitting processes. Starcloud presents a visionary solution by leveraging near-uninterrupted, high-intensity solar energy available in low Earth orbit, where solar arrays operate at capacity factors exceeding 95%. The presentation will detail the design and operational advantages of modular orbital data centers. Utilizing reusable heavy-lift launch vehicles and modular, container-based compute units, these orbital installations can rapidly scale to multi-gigawatt levels without encountering the physical and regulatory constraints that limit Earth-bound facilities. In space, passive radiative cooling replaces energy-intensive terrestrial systems, resulting in drastic reductions in operating costs and environmental impact, including lower greenhouse gas emissions and elimination of water usage for cooling. Connectivity and performance are maintained through advanced laser-based networking and optical communication systems, ensuring the low-latency, high-throughput links essential for training large-scale AI models. This novel approach not only addresses the looming energy crunch but also transforms the economics of data center operation, making it feasible to deploy large-scale, energy-efficient AI training clusters on a scale previously unimaginable. In summary, this talk will provide an in-depth exploration of the technical, economic, and environmental benefits of constructing large data centers in space. By shifting the locus of AI training from Earth to orbit, Starcloud aims to unlock a new era of rapid, sustainable growth for artificial intelligence, meeting the rising global demand for computing power in an energy-efficient manner.

A short bio

Philip Johnston is the co-founder and CEO of Starcloud, building large data centers in space. Philip is a second-time founder who previously spent time at McKinsey & Co. working on satellite projects for national space agencies. Philip has an MPA in National Security & Technology from Harvard University, an MBA from Wharton, an MA in Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics from Columbia University, and is a CFA Charter holder.

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