Blue Origin starts race for orbital data centres with project Sunrise

Following the trend of other firms pursuing orbital data centres, Blue Origin maintains that a satellite-based system offers the most effective solution to the expanding computing and energy needs driven by artificial intelligence applications, SpaceNews reports.

“The built-in efficiencies of solar-powered satellites, always-on solar energy, lack of land or displacement costs, and nonexistent grid infrastructure disparities fundamentally lower the marginal cost of compute capacity compared to terrestrial alternatives,” the filing explained.

“Blue Origin’s Project Sunrise will serve the broad AI data centre market and enable US companies developing and using AI to flourish, accelerating breakthroughs in machine learning, autonomous systems and predictive analytics in support of broad societal benefit,” it added.

Project Sunrise envisions up to 51,600 satellites operating in sun-synchronous orbits at altitudes ranging from 500 to 1,800 kilometres. Each orbital plane would be separated by 5 to 10 kilometres in altitude and host between 300 and 1,000 satellites. The company did not provide specifics on launch logistics, noting only that the project is made possible “by the revolutionary capability of New Glenn’s launch capacity.”

Details about the satellites themselves remain limited, aside from plans for primary communication via optical intersatellite links with TeraWave, Blue Origin’s broadband constellation unveiled in January. The company is requesting FCC approval to utilise Ka-band frequencies, mainly for telemetry, tracking, and control.

Blue Origin pledged to adhere to guidelines aimed at minimising orbital debris and to deorbit satellites within five years after their operational life ends. Additionally, the company intends to collaborate with the astronomy community to reduce the satellites’ brightness and mitigate their impact on astronomical observations.

By Jeyhun Aghazada