3 6 Ke·2026-01-04 04:14Core Insights - The concept of space data centers is gaining traction among major U.S. tech companies, driven by the limitations of ground-based AI data centers in terms of power and water supply [2][3][9] - Google plans to launch satellites equipped with its AI semiconductor, TPU, by 2027 as part of its "Project Suncatcher" initiative [3][5] - SpaceX is reportedly preparing for an IPO, with one of its funding goals being the establishment of space data centers [4][5] Company Developments - Google aims to utilize satellites with proprietary semiconductors for AI applications, planning to launch them by 2027 [5] - SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk has expressed support for the idea of space data centers, highlighting advancements in SpaceX's launch technology [4] - Starcloud, supported by NVIDIA, has already launched a satellite carrying NVIDIA's AI semiconductor, H100, and predicts that most new data centers will be in space within the next decade [6][8] Industry Trends - The demand for electricity from U.S. data centers is projected to reach 106 GWh by 2035, equivalent to over 100 large nuclear power plants, indicating a significant increase in energy needs [9] - The efficiency of photovoltaic cells in space can be up to eight times greater than on Earth, making space data centers a viable alternative to ground-based facilities [3][9] - Challenges for space data centers include high launch costs and the impact of space radiation on electronic devices, with current launch costs estimated at $1,500 per kilogram [9]