TechnologyJanuary 1, 2026

AI and the Move Off Earth: Why Companies Are Testing Data Centers in Space

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② Start Lesson

Key Vocabulary

orbit /ˈɔːrbɪt/

the path an object follows around Earth or another body

"The satellite moves in orbit around Earth."

satellite /ˈsætəlaɪt/

a machine sent into space to carry instruments or services

"The company will launch a small satellite."

solar /ˈsəʊlər/ (solar power)

energy from the sun

"Solar panels make electricity from sunlight."

Listening

AI and the Move Off Earth: Why Companies Are Testing Data Centers in Space

Big AI systems need a lot of electricity and land. The IEA estimates global data centre electricity consumption in 2022 was 240-340 TWh. This growth makes building new data centres harder in some countries.

Some companies want to put data centres in space. Starcloud, formerly Lumen Orbit, plans a small demonstrator satellite in 2025 to test GPUs in orbit. In space, sunlight gives more power and the vacuum helps cooling, so these centres use less water and land. Demonstrations will show if the idea works.

85 words

Quiz

1. How much electricity did the IEA estimate global data centre consumption used in 2022?

2. What company changed its name from Lumen Orbit?

3. When will Starcloud test a demonstrator satellite?

Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

Discussion

Do you use cloud services often? How do you feel when you think they use a lot of energy?

Have you ever visited a large data centre or server room? What was it like?

What do you think about moving some technology into space? Is it exciting or too risky?