Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins wants data centers in space
The concept of placing data centers in orbit is gaining traction among tech companies, but experts caution that it remains far from reality. According to MIT professor Olivier de Weck, a 100-megawatt facility would need solar panels 500 to 1,000 times larger than the ISS's, which produce only 100 kilowatts—comparable to a car engine. While he calls it feasible, he emphasizes it's 'not next year and certainly not in three years' due to massive power, heat-dissipation, and launch-cost challenges.
Key Points
- A 100-megawatt data center in orbit would require solar panels 500 to 1,000 times larger than those on the ISS, which produce only about 100 kilowatts of average power.
- Experts like MIT professor Olivier de Weck state that orbital data centers are feasible but 'not next year and certainly not in three years' due to power, heat, and launch-cost challenges.
- Major tech companies are exploring orbital data-center constellations, but there is no documented support from Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins despite the headline suggestion.
- The ISS solar panels are around half the size of a football field and generate power equivalent to a single big car engine, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
Full Details
The concept of placing data centers in orbit is gaining traction among tech companies, but experts caution that it remains far from reality. According to MIT professor Olivier de Weck, a 100-megawatt facility would need solar panels 500 to 1,000 times larger than the ISS's, which produce only 100 kilowatts—comparable to a car engine. While he calls it feasible, he emphasizes it's 'not next year and certainly not in three years' due to massive power, heat-dissipation, and launch-cost challenges. Industry players like SpaceX and Blue Origin are proposing orbital data-center constellations, but no direct endorsement from Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins has been documented. The discussion highlights a broader industry exploration without immediate viability, as cited in sources like The Associated Press and The Next Web.
Why It Matters
Orbital data centers could disrupt global cloud infrastructure by offering data sovereignty options beyond terrestrial jurisdictions, potentially attracting companies seeking to evade national regulations. Economically, the high launch costs and power requirements may consolidate the space industry around a few players like SpaceX and Blue Origin, reshaping investment flows. For the tech sector, this represents a long-term bet on in-space computing, which could redefine AI and data processing if power-beaming and thermal management technologies advance.
Get stories like this delivered daily
AI-curated news, personalized to your interests. Zero noise.
Start 7-Day Free Trial →More in Technology & Startups
Apple plans Supreme Court appeal in Epic Games App Store battle — again
Apple plans to ask the Supreme Court to review its App Store fight with Epic Games, as it challenges a ruling limiting its ability to charge fees on external payments.
NASA’s Artemis II mission to fly around the far side of the Moon
Humans haven’t stepped foot on the Moon since NASA’s Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Now, the space agency is racing to get back to the lunar surface under the umbrella of its Artemis program — a nod to the Greek goddess and twin sister of Apollo, whose name was given to NASA’s first program to […]
All the news of NASA’s Artemis program, the agency’s attempt to return humans to the Moon
NASA’s Artemis II mission, launching as early as April 1, 2026, will carry astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day, 685,000-mile journey around the Moon. This first crewed test flight of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will evaluate deep-space systems and potentially set a record for the farthest human spaceflight. The mission builds on the successful uncrewed Artemis I flight in 2022 and is a key s
Watch this video of how a job interviewer exposes a North Korean fake IT worker
An apparent North Korean worker was caught visibly stumped during a remote job interview when asked to insult the country's leader.