# Heat Is the Problem That Could Kill Space AI Before It Starts

- slug: heat-is-the-problem-that-could-kill-space-ai-before-it-starts
- date: 2026-04-02
- category: Space & Aerospace

Orbital data centers need to reject heat through radiation alone, with no atmosphere to help. The math says a gigawatt of space compute costs 3x more than on Earth. Until someone solves the thermal problem, that gap wont close.

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