Scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have proposed a radical idea: carbon-neutral data centers in orbit.
The concept envisions space-based infrastructure powered by unlimited solar energy and naturally cooled by the vacuum of space — eliminating the massive energy costs and carbon footprint of Earth-bound facilities. Two models are being studied:
- Orbit Edge Data Centers – satellites processing data directly in orbit.
- Orbital Cloud Data Centers – constellations handling large-scale computation from space.
While this could mark a leap toward a carbon-neutral digital economy, challenges remain — from launch emissions and latency to maintenance and cybersecurity in orbit.
Still, the research signals a bold truth: as data demands surge, the future of digital infrastructure may literally be above our heads.