ORBITAL DATA CENTERS & SPACE SUSTAINABILITY IMPLICATIONS (SWF), July 29, 2026, DC, 11:30 am-2:30 pm ET

The Secure World Foundation will hold an event on July 29, 2026 from 11:30 am-2:30 pm ET at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC, with a panel of experts who will discuss “An Initial Conversation: Orbital Data Centers & Space Sustainability Implications.”

More information and registration instructions are on the event’s website, which says (as of July 5, 2026):

Interest and activity around orbital data centers (ODCs) – satellite constellations of varying size and design intended to harness solar power in space to meet the anticipated demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and other compute-intensive applications – has moved rapidly from the margins to a key trend in space development. Since January 2026, a number of US-based prospective ODC operators have filed for regulatory approval with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop and deploy their systems . These include SpaceX’s plan for a 1 million-satellite ODC constellation (the first actual mega-constellation); StarCloud’s plan for an 88,000-satellite ODC constellation, Blue Origin’s plan for an ODC constellation of up to 51,600 satellites, and Cowboy Space’s plan for a 20,000-satellite constellation. 

These systems, along with other planned ODCs in various other countries, would, if fully deployed, multiply the current total of operating satellites several times over. This is not merely an incremental expansion of existing LEO operations; rather, it raises novel technical, environmental, and governance considerations. ODCs are at the nexus of space activity and the broader AI sector. While many discussions around ODCs focus on technology and market aspects, this event will look at space safety and sustainability dimensions. The promise of ODCs lies primarily in the AI and compute sectors. But deploying them at at scale without adequate frameworks and safeguards in place could threaten the stability of the orbital environment required for them to function. This panel, followed by a networking lunch, will explore the space safety, sustainability, and policy coordination questions raised by ODCs. The central question is: as this potentially transformative space activity develops, how can space policy and safety measures help maintain a stable orbital environment while continuing to foster innovation?