Space Startup Aims to Launch AI Data Centers into Orbit

A new player in the space industry, Aetherflux, is setting its sights on a unique venture: placing AI data centers in orbit. This isn't just about moving data centers to space; it's about solving some big problems on Earth. The idea is to use satellites powered by solar energy to handle AI tasks, which can be a lot more efficient than doing it on the ground. Why? Because AI needs a lot of power and time to process data. On Earth, this means big energy bills and long waits. But in space, satellites could do the same work without the usual hassles. Aetherflux plans to launch the first of these satellites by early 2027. This isn't just a pipe dream. Big names like OpenAI, Google, and Amazon are already looking into space-based solutions for their AI needs. Even Elon Musk has weighed in, saying that satellites with AI capabilities could be the cheapest way to handle AI tasks in the near future. Aetherflux has been around since 2024, focusing on space-based solar power. The goal is to create a power grid in space that can beam energy back to Earth. The Galactic Brain project fits right into this plan. By using solar power and advanced cooling systems, these orbital data centers could outperform their Earth-bound counterparts. The plan involves many small satellites transmitting energy through infrared lasers to ground stations. From there, the power and data can be distributed. Aetherflux claims this method could be more reliable than current solar power generation on the ground.