Google’s global head of data center energy, Amanda Peterson Corio, has cast doubt on the feasibility of space-based data centers, suggesting they could cost up to 100 times more than their terrestrial counterparts. Her remarks came during The Information’s WTF Summit in Napa Valley, where she advised the industry to exhaust all ground-based options before venturing into orbital computing.
Google has been experimenting with space data centers through its Project Suncatcher, a collaboration with satellite operator Planet. Launched on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission in October, the prototype features a roughly 1kW satellite running AI models on a single TPU chip at a time. Despite these tests, Corio emphasized the significant cost disparity, noting that terrestrial power and permitting issues remain the primary bottlenecks.
The debate over orbital data centers has intensified, with skeptics like OpenAI’s Sam Altman dismissing the idea as impractical under current conditions. Meanwhile, SpaceX, a major player in this space, has ambitious plans to launch up to a million data-center satellites, with Elon Musk predicting that orbital compute could surpass terrestrial compute by late 2028. However, SpaceX’s own IPO paperwork acknowledges the significant technical challenges and unproven nature of this technology.
Corio’s broader argument highlights the abundance of power on Earth, attributing local resistance to data centers to permitting and grid interconnection studies. She criticized newer, less experienced developers for contributing to this backlash, though established firms like Oracle have also faced opposition. With 75 data center projects worth $130 billion delayed or blocked in early 2026, the political and regulatory hurdles remain substantial, both on the ground and in orbit.