The idea is simple but ambitious: use unlimited solar power in orbit and get rid of the need for batteries, fuel, or backup generators. Because the satellite will receive constant sunlight while in orbit, it can run indefinitely without worrying about Earth’s energy limitations or power grid stability.

Cooling—a huge challenge for modern data centers—is handled in a completely new way. Instead of using fans or water, the Starcloud-1 satellite will rely on what NVIDIA calls “cosmic-grade air conditioning.”

Basically, all the heat produced by the GPUs will be released directly into space as infrared radiation. The vacuum of space acts like a perfect heat sink, turning the satellite itself into a natural radiator. This setup removes the need for complex water-cooling systems and eliminates water waste entirely.

For NVIDIA, this mission isn’t just a publicity stunt. As AI workloads keep growing, traditional data centers are consuming massive amounts of electricity and cooling resources. Taking computing to orbit could bypass these limits while providing stable, renewable power and near-zero cooling costs.