Oregon IEEE Solid State Circuits Society

June 20, 2012

Server Sky - Planar Solid State Data Centers in Orbit

Server sky is a proposal orbiting data centers composed of large arrays of 3 gram ultrathin satellites, fueled by space solar energy and communicating with EHF radios in sparse phased arrays.

Large data centers consume almost 3% of US electrical generation, growing exponentially as global demand outpaces computing efficiency gains. Simulation models of natural systems, from molecules to human bodies to the global atmosphere, far outstrip our computational resources. Terrestrial "green" energy may be worse than the fossil fuel technologies they try to replace, while the sun wastes 380 trillion terawatts into empty space.

Satellites are overdue for a planar technology makeover. Your smartphone contains more transistors and advanced technology than a three hundred million dollar satellite, and replaces a complex wired network with a distributed cloud of small cooperative devices. Deep submicron MOSFETs and micron-thick InP solar cells do not need radiation shielding. Speculative branch processor pipelines can be adapted for error tolerance. Combined with other new technologies, such as electrochromic mirrors, flat screen technology, and automated solar cell production, we can cheaply mass produce tiny satellites by the billions, and launch them millions at a time. Local factories can produce these satellites with little or no retooling.

Solid state electronics can solve many of the world's most vexing problems at Moore's Law rates. The opportunities for market growth and profit are enormous, healing the earth while expanding into the solar system.