- Starcloud and Crusoe want to take data centers off Earth
- Nvidia’s H100 GPUs will operate beyond Earth’s atmosphere for the first time
- Orbital data centers could reach gigawatt capacity using unfiltered solar radiation
Plans to launch Nvidia’s H100 GPUs into orbit are moving from speculation to reality, led by Starcloud and Crusoe.
The two companies are collaborating to build the world’s first data centers in space, with the goal of exploiting solar energy beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Starcloud, a Redmond-based Nvidia Inception-backed company, is developing scalable orbital computing platforms capable of reaching gigawatt capacities.
Convert sunlight into computer cycles
Crusoe, known for its cloud computing services, will deploy its Crusoe Cloud platform on one of Starcloud’s satellites scheduled to launch in 2026.
In early 2027, the company hopes to deliver limited GPU-based computing power from orbit, describing it as “a new paradigm for AI factories.”
The central idea behind these space data centers lies in the use of direct solar energy.
Without the filtering effects of the Earth’s atmosphere, solar panels in orbit can harness sunlight at maximum intensity.
The companies say this will enable “nearly unlimited, low-cost renewable energy” to power AI workloads in space.
Estimates suggest that such infrastructure could reduce energy expenditures by up to ten times compared to ground-based installations, even taking into account launch costs.
Starcloud will launch the first Nvidia H100 GPUs into space in November 2025, a move that could redefine how large-scale computing is handled.
Crusoe plans to run AI and LLM models directly on these GPUs through its cloud platform.
In theory, space systems could offer faster access to solar energy and more predictable thermal conditions.
Nvidia has suggested that the vacuum of deep space could serve as “an infinite heat sink,” allowing for unconventional cooling techniques that differ from those used on Earth.
However, the long-term viability of such an approach remains uncertain, especially given the absence of traditional convection in zero gravity.
The ambition behind these orbital data centers is clear, but questions remain about their practical and economic viability.
Space launches, hardware maintenance, and radiation exposure introduce risks that could offset the energy savings.
The idea of an off-planet data infrastructure may seem futuristic, although its execution will depend on overcoming complex operational and engineering challenges.
Through Tom Hardware
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