The future of the data center industry is a subject that has stirred up a lot of excitement in recent years. The shift towards digitalization has resulted in an increased demand for data centers to store and manage the vast quantities of data generated by businesses and individuals alike. Interestingly, the conversation is now moving beyond traditional land-based data centers to the possibilities of building and operating them in space.
The show’s host Diana Olick delved into this futuristic concept in a recent conversation with David Steinbach, Global CIO of Hines, a real estate finance and development firm, and Ross Centers, CEO of Ethos, a lunar builder. The discussion, held on CNBC’s Property Play, revolved around the feasibility and logistics of creating data centers on the moon.
Steinbach shared that the idea is not as far-fetched as it may seem. With private capital pouring into the space industry and new companies emerging every day to cater to this market, the future of data centers in space is already being realized. He further drew attention to the benefits of such a transition, highlighting the unlimited power from the sun, the cooling effect of the vacuum of space, and the extensive real estate available in outer space.
In the conversation, Steinbach also emphasized the role of Heinz as a possible infrastructure provider for companies like Ethos. The company’s aim is to support the supply chain and logistics required to establish these space-based data centers.
On the other hand, Centers explained how Ethos is preparing to construct on the moon using robotics. Ethos plans to convert lunar rock into a synthetic igneous rock that is twice as strong as concrete, which can be used to build landing pads, roads, and foundations for data centers. Using robotics for construction in space is not only practical but also necessary since maintaining human life in space is challenging.
Centers also mentioned the significant progress in space launch technology and the clear intent of America to return to the moon, both of which are key factors that will make space-based data centers a reality in the near future.
The conversation concluded with a shared optimism that despite the challenges, the market will find a way to make this vision a reality. The host and his guests agreed that the potential benefits of space-based data centers are too significant to ignore, especially considering the increasing demand for power and the finite resources available on Earth.
Overall, the discussion shed light on an exciting and ambitious vision for the future of data centers. It will be fascinating to see how this idea develops and how it could revolutionize the real estate and data center industries in the coming years.