FUTURE FLASH: CAN ORBITAL DATA CENTERS OUTPACE EARTH'S LIMITATIONS?

Philip, CEO and co-founder of StarCloud, discusses building data centers in space, emphasizing the upcoming launch of their first AI data center. He highlights the use of NVIDIA H100 chips, significantly more powerful than anything previously used in space. Philip argues that space-based data centers will soon be more efficient due to abundant energy and cold temperatures. He envisions large-scale compute modules connected to substantial solar panels and radiators. Starship's reusability is presented as a key factor in reducing launch costs and increasing capacity. The discussion covers the cost-effectiveness of space-based solar energy compared to terrestrial solar, citing the elimination of land permits and battery storage. Technical challenges like heat dissipation and radiation are addressed, with solutions involving deployable radiators and radiation testing. Philip anticipates that in the future, most new data centers will be built in space, possibly leading to even more ambitious projects like a Dyson sphere.