Europe · Feasibility study
This project focuses on assessing the feasibility of data centers in space.
An EU-funded Thales Alenia Space consortium study of orbital data-center feasibility. Its environmental, cloud, launcher and orbital-system partners evaluated a long-term concept; the study does not establish funded construction or spacecraft orders.
Thales Alenia Space consortium · Study
Scope: Shared computing & storage · A shared computing or storage platform, or a program developing that infrastructure. Classification describes intended use, not operating capacity.
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Power-based study target. The source does not separate IT power from other loads; no compute-rate conversion or funded deployment is implied.
As of
Primary source ↗Figures retain their disclosed units and scope. Launched hardware does not establish demonstrated performance; targets may change. Not disclosed means no figure in the reviewed sources.
Research participant
Program organization: Thales Alenia Space
PartnershipOrbital-system study within ASCEND.
Research participation; no spacecraft order or subcontract value disclosed.
Announced 27 Jun 2024 · Evidence checked 26 Sept 2026
ASCEND study consortium results (opens in a new tab)Research participant
Program organization: Thales Alenia Space
PartnershipLauncher study within ASCEND.
Research participation; no spacecraft order or subcontract value disclosed.
Announced 27 Jun 2024 · Evidence checked 26 Sept 2026
ASCEND study consortium results (opens in a new tab)Research participant
Program organization: Thales Alenia Space
PartnershipEnvironmental assessment within ASCEND.
Research participation; no spacecraft order or subcontract value disclosed.
Announced 27 Jun 2024 · Evidence checked 26 Sept 2026
ASCEND study consortium results (opens in a new tab)Research participant
Program organization: Thales Alenia Space
PartnershipCloud-computing study within ASCEND.
Research participation; no spacecraft order or subcontract value disclosed.
Announced 27 Jun 2024 · Evidence checked 26 Sept 2026
ASCEND study consortium results (opens in a new tab)Research participant
Program organization: Thales Alenia Space
PartnershipOrbital-system study within ASCEND.
Research participation; no spacecraft order or subcontract value disclosed.
Announced 27 Jun 2024 · Evidence checked 26 Sept 2026
ASCEND study consortium results (opens in a new tab)Research participant
Program organization: Thales Alenia Space
PartnershipCloud-computing study within ASCEND.
Research participation; no spacecraft order or subcontract value disclosed.
Announced 27 Jun 2024 · Evidence checked 26 Sept 2026
ASCEND study consortium results (opens in a new tab)Research participant
Program organization: Thales Alenia Space
PartnershipCloud-computing study within ASCEND.
Research participation; no spacecraft order or subcontract value disclosed.
Announced 27 Jun 2024 · Evidence checked 26 Sept 2026
ASCEND study consortium results (opens in a new tab)Research participant
Program organization: Thales Alenia Space
PartnershipEnvironmental assessment within ASCEND.
Research participation; no spacecraft order or subcontract value disclosed.
Announced 27 Jun 2024 · Evidence checked 26 Sept 2026
ASCEND study consortium results (opens in a new tab)Manual review 28 Oct 2026. The coordinator source remains a feasibility study with a long-term one-gigawatt objective and modular robotic assembly concept. Funded construction, spacecraft orders and an ASCEND launch are not established. Last full profile review 15 Oct 2026. Primary body last observed 23 Oct, 06:38 UTC. Source monitoring: ongoing. Source collection and substantive profile review are separate checks. Plans and dates may change.
Thales Alenia Space (opens in a new tab)Verified announcements and milestones linked to this project, newest first.
Thales Alenia Space describes the launch and infrastructure conditions needed for an environmental benefit.
The announced ASCEND feasibility study is backed by an EU contribution of EUR 2,047,882 for the consortium under grant agreement 101082517, signed on 18 October 2022. This funds the study, not construction of orbital data centers.
