Earth-Based Data Centres vs. Space-Based Data Centres: A holistic review

As global data demands escalate with Artificial Intelligence, Big-Data, and cloud computing, the feasibility of Space-Based Data Centres (SBDC) as a complementary infrastructure to Earth-Based Data Centres (EBDC) has gained increasing attention. This paper provides a review of existing research and industry developments, summarizing and comparing the advantages, limitations, and implications of data storage and processing in space, as well as the political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal (PESTLE) considerations. The analysis considers core elements such as energy efficiency, cooling mechanisms, latency, security, launch and maintenance costs, environmental impact, processing time, and more. This paper analyses state-of-the-art EBDC to provide a comprehensive overview of current EBDC, its evolving design, industry standards, and future demand projections. It further compares proposed space-based architectures for SBDC, evaluating their feasibility and benefits in relation to terrestrial systems. The paper includes a cost–benefit and risk analysis, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for SBDCs. Through this review, the authors aim to provide a balanced perspective on whether space-based data centres can transition from a theoretical concept to a viable addition to the rising global computing ecosystem.