Space computing: what is it, why move computing into orbit and where does China stand?
Driven by AI’s massive power demands and satellite bandwidth limits, tech giants and superpowers are moving data centres into orbit.
Space is fast becoming the ultimate computing frontier. As artificial intelligence (AI) demands unprecedented amounts of power and water for cooling on Earth, tech giants have been looking into setting up systems in orbit. Space computing involves satellites operating as intelligent orbital data centres fuelled by a constant supply of solar energy. While the US currently leads the sector because of the work of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, China is catching up rapidly via massive domestic satellite networks. SCMP senior tech reporter Wency Chen breaks down how this new geopolitical race will redefine the future of global tech power.