Tether-Based Architecture for Solar-Powered Orbital AI Data Centers

Abstract: We propose a tether-based structural architecture for orbital data centers operating in Dawn-Dusk Sun-Synchronous (DDSS) orbits under continuous sunlight. These space-based data centers, powered solely by solar energy, could provide multi-megawatt computing for AI inference with minimal latency to Earth. The proposed design uses a tethered chain of computing nodes with photovoltaic panels to achieve uninterrupted 2-20 MW of computing power, and employs radiative cooling and integrated shielding to manage heat and radiation. We detail the system architecture, including mass budgets, passive attitude control, and the dynamics induced by micrometeoroid collisions.