The Blue Wave Has Tech Bros Scrambling for Data Centers in Space
After Democrats won big in Texas and other AI infrastructure hot spots on Tuesday, data center enthusiasts looked for comfort in low Earth orbit.
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Democrats won elections across the country on Tuesday, including in Texas, a major data center hub, with many winning candidates opposing the data center industry. In response, tech industry figures have posted on social media that they now view space-based data centers as appealing alternatives to building on Earth. While some major companies are already developing orbital data center projects, experts note that space-based data centers are significantly more expensive than land-based ones, cannot reach hyperscale size, and face risks from satellite launches. The new Democratic control of the Texas House could enable changes through executive orders or county zoning authority, though Republican control of the state senate and existing developer protections may limit immediate impact.
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