Google: Space Data Centers Need 1,800 Starship Launches
Google is developing orbital data centers. To make this project viable, the tech giant is awaiting significant progress from SpaceX and its Starship rocket.
On October 1st, Google sent its first space-bound data center into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This mission will test chip functionality in harsh space conditions. However, widespread adoption of the technology depends on SpaceX's advancements.
Google recently published a paper on orbital data centers, addressing space access for equipment and launch costs. The company expects SpaceX to reduce transport expenses via its rockets to enable cost-effectiveness. Based on SpaceX's historical cost reduction of 20% annually since Falcon 1, Google projects that by 2035, Starship could offer rates around $200 per kilogram for space transport.
Achieving this price point requires extensive testing and learning from each launch. Google's paper indicates that this substantial cost reduction is contingent upon approximately 1,800 Starship launches. This target is ambitious, implying around 180 Starship flights annually over a decade, each carrying at least 200 tons. Currently, Starship has not exceeded five flights per year (as of 2025). This suggests a massive ramp-up is needed for Starship to support Google's orbital data center ambitions as a functional infrastructure.
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