The explosion of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly demanding data centers to process massive data. This demand for infrastructure, in turn, generates colossal energy consumption, putting the sector sustainability. In search of innovative solutions, European Union (EU) proposes a bold idea: data centers in space.
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Why data centers in space?
The main motivation for this initiative is the unlimited solar energy available in space. Traditional data centers consume a lot of energy, mainly to power and cool their servers. In space, the solar energy would be abundant and constant, solving the problem of overload on the electrical grid and the emission of polluting gases.
Technical and economic viability
The study Advanced Space Cloud for European Net zero emission and Data sovereignty (ASCEND), coordinated by Thales Alenia Space, evaluated the viability of data centers in space from different perspectives: technical, economic and environmental. The conclusions are promising:
- Technical viability: Current technology already allows the launch and operation of data centers in Earth orbit.
- Economic viability: The ASCEND project proposes to launch 13 “building blocks” of space data centers with a total capacity of 10 megawatts by 2036, expanding to 1 gigawatt by 2050. The goal is to offer cloud services at competitive prices.
- Environmental viability: Eliminating space data centersariaemission of greenhouse gases and the demand for water for cooling, significantly reducing the environmental impact.
Challenges and next steps
Although the idea is promising, there are still challenges to be overcome:
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- High launch cost: Launching data centers into space is a complex and expensive process.
- Maintenance and repairs: Maintenance and repairs of equipment in orbit represent a logistical challenge.
- Latency: Communication between data centers in space and Earth can introduce latency, which can affect some applications.
Despite the challenges, the EU isprometaken with the development of technology. The ASCEND project is ongoing, seeking innovative solutions to the aforementioned challenges.
Data centers in space: the future of AI?
The idea of data centers in space is still in the early stages of development, but it represents an important step in the search for sustainable solutions to the growing demand for artificial intelligence. The success of this initiative could revolutionize the way we process and store data, paving the way for a greener and more efficient future.
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