Jeff Bezos made headlines this past week with his bold prediction about the future of data centres, sparking significant discussion about orbital data centres as the next frontier in computing infrastructure.
Bezos’ space-based vision
During a fireside chat at Italian Tech Week in Turin on October 3, 2025, Amazon founder and executive chair Jeff Bezos predicted that gigawatt-scale data centres will be operating in Earth’s orbit within the next 10 to 20 years. Bezos envisions these space-based facilities being powered by continuous solar energy, taking advantage of the uninterrupted stream of photons available above Earth’s atmosphere.
Key benefits of orbital computing facilities
The primary advantages of orbital data centres include:
- 24/7 access to solar power without atmospheric interference
- Increased solar panel efficiency in space (1,361 watts/m² vs 1,000 watts/m² on Earth)
- Freedom from terrestrial power grid constraints
- Reduced cooling costs due to space’s natural cold environment
Economic feasibility and market dynamics
The decreasing cost of space launches has made orbital data centres increasingly viable. SpaceX’s innovations have reduced launch costs from $10,000 per kilogram to under $2,000, with future projections suggesting sub-$100 rates with Starship technology.
Technical challenges and considerations
Despite the promising outlook, several hurdles remain for orbital data centres:
- Complex thermal management requirements in the vacuum of space
- Radiation protection for sensitive computing equipment
- Maintenance and repair logistics in orbital environments
- Data transmission latency between Earth and space-based facilities
Current industry developments
Companies like SpaceX have already demonstrated the viability of large-scale orbital operations through their Starlink constellation. AST SpaceMobile’s successful deployment of the largest commercial communications array in low Earth orbit further validates the potential for complex space-based infrastructure.
As the demand for computing power continues to grow, orbital data centres may become a crucial component of our global digital infrastructure, offering solutions to terrestrial limitations while opening new possibilities for sustainable computing operations in space.
Sources
- NY Post – Jeff Bezos Expects Data Centers Will Be Built in Space
- The Register – Bezos Space Data Centers
