#33: Data centers in space (part 1)

Order a "What the Fractal?" t-shirt now! Explore The Space Between Astronomy Podcast merch store: https://the-space-between-podcast.printify.me/ --- In this episode of The Space Between, we explore a bold new frontier in digital infrastructure: data centers in space. As the world’s appetite for computing power skyrockets, fueled by AI, cloud services, and ever-expanding networks, traditional data centers are hitting limits on land, water, and energy. The solution some scientists and entrepreneurs propose? Lift the cloud above the clouds. We examine the technical promise and pitfalls of orbital data centers: abundant solar power and radiative cooling in the vacuum of space versus the harsh realities of radiation, latency, and orbital debris. From Europe’s ASCEND project to startups like Starcloud and Axiom Space’s station-based plans, we trace how quickly this idea is shifting from sci-fi concept to funded prototypes. But it’s not all efficiency and green promises. We dig into the environmental tradeoffs, the risk of “sky pollution” for astronomy, and the legal gray zones of data sovereignty beyond Earth. Alongside that, we unpack the week’s wilder headlines: alien embryos from meteorites in Panama and a fake comet hoax named C/2025 Q2 ZTF, and ask how to separate real innovation from viral distraction. Expect a conversation that blends cutting-edge tech, climate urgency, and cosmic perspective, where sustainability, skepticism, and the stars all intersect. Articles: ⁠ChatGPT Deep Research on orbital data centers: https://chatgpt.com/s/dr_68d0eeade4b881918f9b8cff86b79ce9 Primary sources about the P/2025 Q2 (PANSTARRS) comet: https://www.cobs.si/comet/2657/ https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=c%2F2025%20q2 https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K25/K25R67.html Official Starcloud website: https://www.starcloud.com/ Starcloud whitepaper: https://starcloud.com/wp/ --- JOIN OUR LIVE SHOW ON EVERY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH AT THIS LINK! ⁠⁠⁠https://riverside.fm/studio/kolby-van-camps-studio-eMegK⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Kolby's new album! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii⁠