NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on Wednesday floated the idea of relocating data centers into Earth orbit, a proposal aimed at addressing the mounting public and political backlash against the facilities' expanding footprint across the United States.
"Let's take our data centers, put them in Earth orbit, take advantage of that free fusion reactor that's out there for us and use that to ensure we do win the … space race for sure, but the (artificial intelligence) race, too," Isaacman said in an interview with Nexstar DC's Vinay Simot.
Isaacman argued that moving data centers into space would "have immense benefits," allowing companies to tap into solar energy—the "free fusion reactor" he referenced—to power the energy-hungry facilities. The proposal comes as data centers, which are critical to the booming artificial intelligence industry, have increasingly drawn criticism from residents and politicians alike over their impact on local electricity prices and the environment.
Political climate shifts
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are scrambling to distance themselves from data centers, with some swing-state candidates advocating for stricter regulations and accusing opponents of being too cozy with the tech sector. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) recently signed an order requiring data center developers to cover electricity costs and secure local approval—a notable reversal for a governor who previously touted such investments.
This is not the first time Isaacman has proposed the orbital data center concept. In an early August appearance on the New York Post's "Pod Force One" podcast, he called the idea a "fantastic" solution to public complaints. "Elon [Musk] and others in the industry are like, 'Let's take the data centers that no one likes in your backyard—it seems like there's a lot of consensus on that—and put them into space where they won't bother anyone,'" Isaacman said, adding that the space-based facilities would require solar panels "the size of several football fields."
Federal pushback against moratoriums
While some state lawmakers have called for outright bans on new data centers, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on Sunday cautioned against such measures, warning of potential consequences for the U.S. in its AI race with China. "There's been a push from some states where they're talking about a statewide moratorium, and what I've found is that most of this country wants to make sure the United States wins this race to be the AI capital of the world, that we do not relinquish this to China," Zeldin said during an appearance on John Catsimatidis's radio show "The Cats Roundtable" on 77 WABC.
The debate over data centers has become a flashpoint in the broader political discourse, with public sentiment turning sharply against the facilities. Some candidates, like Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race, have endorsed temporary freezes, while others, including former President Trump, have defended the industry as essential to national competitiveness.
Isaacman's orbital proposal, while unconventional, reflects a growing willingness among officials to explore creative solutions to the data center dilemma. Whether such a plan is technically or economically feasible remains an open question, but it underscores the urgency of finding ways to balance technological advancement with public concerns.
