New calculator helps evaluate the economics of datacenters in space — running the numbers on orbital computing reveals a brutal reality

Putting datacenters in space for power and cooling benefits may seem like a grand idea, but an online calculator by Andrew McCalip from Varda Space Industries reveals a harsh reality. His calculations show that a SpaceGPT installation would cost over three times more than its earthbound equivalent. The detailed calculator allows for adjusting various parameters to gauge the feasibility of orbital computing. Despite the allure of space-based data centers, McCalip's analysis and Andrew Côté's engineering insights suggest that the challenges and costs may not justify the move at present. AI computing may still be best suited for Earth due to the significant economic and technical hurdles involved.