Data centers … in space.
How did the “final frontier” become a genuine consideration for siting and constructing next-generation data centers? Perhaps it is the inevitable result of demand greatly outstripping supply in two of the great pillars of the data center ecosystem: real estate and power supply. As Pillsbury recently reported in the Pillsbury Guide to Data Centers, some 11,800 data centers were reported to already be operating worldwide in 2024. Yet the demand for centers is expected to rise by as much as 22% annually until 2030, placing significant constraints on the ability of operators to locate sufficient real estate to build and operate them all, obtain the necessary permits for construction and operation on a timely basis, and, significantly, ensure the availability and reliability of electricity to power and cool the components. Or perhaps growing concerns over security, resiliency and environmental impacts are driving operators and users to look for alternative solutions.