Space-Based Solar Power and Orbital Data Centers: A New Frontier for Orbital Sustainability

Technologies like Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) and Orbital Data Centers are no longer speculative. As of 2025, they are entering the demonstration phase. With launch costs falling and demand for scalable energy and computing rising, these orbital megastructures are becoming real engineering endeavors. Their development will reshape how we manage space traffic and coordinate operations in increasingly complex orbital environments. At OKAPI:Orbits, we are keen to stay ahead of the curve, offering tools and frameworks that can ensure the safe, sustainable use of space during the deployment of these infrastructures.

Engineering and Operational Challenges in Space Megastructures

The first systems under development include satellites designed to collect solar energy and transmit it to Earth using focused microwave or laser beams. These platforms are intended to operate continuously, unaffected by weather or nightfall, and could provide a reliable baseload addition to terrestrial power grids.

In parallel, orbital data centers are being explored as large-scale platforms for off-Earth computing. Operating continuously in space, these stations offer advantages in thermal management, energy availability, and latency for specific applications.

Several concepts are moving toward demonstration and operation. On November 2^nd 2025, Starcloud launched Starcloud-1, which carries a data-centre class NVIDIA H100 GPU, to test reliability within the space environment. Upcoming SBSP proof-of-concept missions from Aetherflux, Reflect Orbital, and Star Catcher are expected to test key technologies such as sunlight reflection, beam transmission, and ground-based reception.  

Adapting Policy for High-Power Orbital Technologies

Regulatory frameworks will need to evolve to address the unique characteristics of these missions, especially those transmitting energy via high-powered beams. Licensing for microwave and laser transmission, spectrum allocation, and international coordination will require careful attention to ensure safe and compliant operation. Orbital data centers also raise important questions around jurisdiction, data governance, and long-term liability, particularly as they begin to host sensitive or critical workloads.

Operationally, Space Traffic Management (STM) will enter a new phase of complexity. These orbital platforms will not only be 10s of times larger than current orbital infrastructure, but they also introduce novel activities, such as continuous high-power beam transmissions directed toward Earth. As these Megawatt-scale beams pass through the atmosphere, they must be carefully coordinated to avoid interference with terrestrial aviation and other space infrastructure. This creates a new interface between Space Traffic Management systems and Air Traffic Control (ATC) networks, a domain in which OKAPI:Orbits is actively engaging within.  

At the same time, proximity risks and maneuvering challenges around these large structures demand enhanced tracking and predictive capabilities to ensure safe and sustainable operations in increasingly crowded orbital environments.

OKAPI:Orbits’ Role in Enabling Safe Orbital Operations

For OKAPI:Orbits, the rise of orbital megastructures is more than a technical challenge. It is an opportunity to shape the future of space operations. The STM and ATC integration work within our projects lays the foundation for managing traffic around high-power platforms and beam paths.  

OKAPI:Aether provides the analytical backbone for conjunction prediction and risk assessment, providing high accuracy risk prediction more than a week in advance of close approaches. OKAPI:Astrolabe enables collaborative planning across operators and jurisdictions, monitoring over 90% of active satellites. OKAPI:Soteria adds a strategic layer that helps assess regulatory compliance with for example NASA, ESA and JAXA guidelines and the long-term impact of missions. Together, these tools position OKAPI:Orbits to support the safe deployment and operation of next-generation space infrastructure.

Joining the Conversation: International Conference on Energy from Space

We are excited to drive the conversation forward at the International Conference on Energy from Space in Mandelieu.
If you are attending, come talk to Alex Bush about how OKAPI:Orbits is helping pave the way for safe and scalable orbital infrastructure. Let’s explore what the future of space operations could look like, together.

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