First-ever data center on the Moon set to launch next month

The first Moon-based data center by Lonestar launches in February with SpaceX, aiming for secure and eco-friendly storage.

: Lonestar Data Holdings is set to launch the first lunar data center, called 'Freedom Data Center,' next month. This compact facility, powered by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, offers enhanced data security and eco-friendliness. Early clients include Florida, Isle of Man, AI firm Valkyrie, and Imagine Dragons. While facing challenges like costs and maintenance, a backup will be maintained at a Tampa Flexential site.

Lonestar Data Holdings, a startup from Florida, is launching the first-ever data center on the Moon, named 'Freedom Data Center,' in February. It will be part of a lunar lander mission by Intuitive Machines on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, offering unique benefits like unmatched security and environmental efficiency, thanks to solar power and naturally cooled solid-state drives.

The company has secured notable clients such as the state of Florida, the Isle of Man government, AI firm Valkyrie, and pop rock band Imagine Dragons. This endeavor follows successful data storage tests on the Moon last year and the International Space Station in 2021, but it faces challenges due to the harsh lunar environment and high costs.

To mitigate risks, a ground-based backup will be located at a Flexential facility in Tampa. The operation details and hardware specifications remain undisclosed, raising interest in Lonestar's approach to facilitating communication between lunar and terrestrial facilities. Other companies, like Lumen Orbit, are also planning similar projects, highlighting a burgeoning interest in space-based data centers.