The Songjiang district in Shanghai hosted on August 30 the first China Space Computing Industry Development Forum, bringing together leaders from satellite, semiconductor, artificial intelligence, cloud computing sectors, researchers, and investors. The event positioned Shanghai at the forefront of an ambitious initiative seeking to transfer part of artificial intelligence processing from terrestrial data centers to space.
The main objective is to develop systems capable of processing data directly in orbit, eliminating the need to send large volumes of information to Earth. The approach is similar to the edge computing concept but implemented hundreds of kilometers above the surface. China already has 12 experimental satellites that integrate a constellation dedicated to space computing, allowing satellites to analyze images, identify relevant changes, and transmit only selected data, such as alerts or critical information.
Potential applications include areas such as agriculture, meteorology, and environmental monitoring. However, the challenges for building orbital data centers are substantial, including issues related to energy, cooling, radiation, and communication. The use of solar energy can offer advantages, allowing orbital equipment to function without depending on a terrestrial electrical grid.
The forum emphasized the need for integration between sectors that have historically operated in isolation, such as the aerospace industry, semiconductors, and cloud computing. The Songjiang region already hosts more than 100 companies related to the satellite internet sector and is focused on expanding space computing capabilities.
