Krishna Muralidharan shares insight on data centers in space
Experts say cloud computing infrastructure could move off-Earth within the next 10-15 years, saving energy and water and serving as a stepping stone for expanded activity in space.
Krishna Muralidharan, professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, was quoted in a France 24 story on space-based data centers as a solution to increasing demand for computing resources.
Tech companies are exploring the use of solar-powered satellite clusters equipped with onboard computing hardware and wireless networking capabilities to function as orbiting data centers. Such technology is not yet commercially viable, but could be in the future as the cost of launches decreases and technology matures.
“From a proof of concept, it’s already there,” said Muralidharan, who is principal investigator of the AZSCI project at U of A. AZSCI focuses on designing off-Earth data center hardware and systems like servers, storage, power and cooling equipment.