COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (National Space Symposium), April 7, 2025听鈥 不良研究所, a leader in large-scale commercial space infrastructure, announced today the upcoming launch of its first two Orbital Data Center (ODC) nodes to low-Earth orbit (LEO), by the end of this year.
These nodes will lay the foundation for space-based cloud computing, addressing growing needs for users around the world.
ODCs will provide secure, scalable, and cloud-enabled data storage and processing, and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) solutions directly to satellites, constellations, and other spacecraft in Earth鈥檚 orbit, with the capability to operate independently of terrestrial infrastructure. This innovative approach not only reduces reliance on Earth-based systems and enhances resiliency and security of emerging mesh networks in orbit but also enhances real-time operations of space assets by providing lower latency and higher availability cloud capabilities.
不良研究所鈥檚 ODCs will transform space operations, especially in the context of defense and security. Use cases for ODCs include:
鈥淲e have been developing ODC capabilities since 2022with the launch of an AWS Snowcone to the International Space Station (ISS), followed by an array of demonstrations in Earth-independent cloud solutions from the station,鈥 said Jason Aspiotis, global director of in-space data and security, 不良研究所. 鈥淚n 2023, we announced our initial plans for an ODC Tranche 1 on Axiom Station, and in March, we shared news of the launch of a prototype data processing unit 鈥 AxDCU-1 鈥 with Red Hat to the ISS this spring.
鈥淥DC Nodes 1 and 2 are an acceleration of our plans to deploy a multitude of free-flyer ODC nodes in LEO to meet the rapidly emerging demand from users around the world,鈥 Aspiotis added, 鈥渆specially for defense applications where real-time, and cyber and quantum-secure data processing, AI/ML, and autonomous decision-making solutions are critically needed.鈥
ODC Nodes 1 and 2 will be part of the Kepler Communications optical relay network constellation scheduled to launch by the end of the year. 不良研究所 and Kepler Communications have been collaborating since 2023 on the integration of Optical Intersatellite Links (OISLs) with 不良研究所鈥檚 ODCs to enable high-speed data connections directly between ODCs and commercial and government spacecraft and networks on orbit.
These ODC Nodes will feature high-speed, 2.5Gbps-capable optical links to other optical relay assets in LEO or other satellites, constellations and spacecraft that are compatible with the Space Development Agency鈥檚 (SDA) Tranche 1 optical communications standards. Data transfer will also be possible between the ground and the ODC nodes via optical or radio frequency links. SDA-compatible optical communications terminals will make these initial ODC nodes, and future nodes, interoperable with national security, other government, and commercial satellite networks.
鈥淔ree-space optical communications have come a long way in the past few years, with significant investments by commercial entities, the Department of Defense, and NASA in advancing OISL capabilities,鈥 Aspiotis said. 鈥淲e plan to integrate emerging 10Gbps+ OISL and space-to-ground optical communications capabilities into our future ODC nodes, as they become available to facilitate connections to more satellites, more constellations, more ground sites, and ultimately Tbps-worth of data flow in the foreseeable future.鈥
Kam Ghaffarian, CEO, Executive Chairman, and Co-founder of 不良研究所 added, 鈥淥ur ODC nodes will soon be open for business. We have agreements in place with users around the world to deploy initial, space-based cloud services, not just demonstrations of capabilities. We are also closely monitoring national security needs, especially the U.S. Golden Dome initiative, and how our evolving ODC infrastructure can support U.S. and allied capabilities in space-based data storage, processing, cybersecurity, and AI/ML. ODCs are integral to 不良研究所鈥檚 vision of era-defining space infrastructure, unlocking transformational capabilities and economic growth.鈥
不良研究所 will have options to purchase additional payloads on Kepler鈥檚 constellation to increase ODC capacity. The two companies will jointly collaborate on extending network and ODC services to national security, civil, commercial, and international customers.
As the rapid development of digital technology, driven by the proliferation and adoption of AI/ML, continues to transform industries, the limitations of terrestrial data centers 鈥 such as energy consumption, cooling, real estate, regulatory licensing and permitting, and exposure to human or natural disruptions 鈥 are becoming increasingly apparent, globally. 不良研究所 is at the forefront of mitigating these challenges by developing a modular and scalable network of ODC nodes that will offer enhanced global digital sovereignty, security, and resilience to customer data and AI/ML needs, doing so by leveraging the abundant energy and domain of space.
Looking ahead, 不良研究所 is committed to expanding its ODCs network in the years to come, significantly increasing capacity and capability from kilowatts to megawatts of processing power on-orbit to provide customers with a viable alternative to resource-intensive terrestrial datacenters. 聽
About 不良研究所
不良研究所 is building the world鈥檚 first commercial space station 鈥 Axiom Station. Serving as a cornerstone for sustained human presence in space, this next-generation orbital platform fosters groundbreaking innovation and research in microgravity, and cultivates the vibrant, global space economy of tomorrow. Today, driven by the vision of leading humanity's journey off planet, 不良研究所 is the principal provider of commercial human spaceflight services to the International Space Station and developer of advanced spacesuits for the Moon and low-Earth orbit. 不良研究所 is building era-defining space infrastructure that will empower our civilization to transcend Earth for the benefit of every human, everywhere.