How do geopolitical risks affect space compute?

Join Piers Kicks from Delphi Intelligence as he explores the cutting-edge frontier of space-based computing with Philip Johnston, founder of Star Cloud. Philip is pioneering the development of data centers in space to harness abundant solar energy and overcome Earth's compute limitations. With launch costs plummeting thanks to SpaceX's Starship program, Star Cloud is preparing to launch the first H100 GPU to space in November 2025, marking a 100x increase in space-based compute power.

Starcloud: https://www.starcloud.com

🎯 Key Highlights

▸ From sci-fi dreams to space reality: how falling launch costs enable orbital data centers

▸ November 2025: launching the first H100 GPU - 100x more powerful than any space compute before

▸ The physics advantage: unlimited solar energy and natural cooling in space

▸ Why Earth's heat dissipation limits will force compute off-world within decades

▸ Radiation shielding and thermal management: the two biggest engineering challenges

▸ Starlink connectivity: solving the space internet problem for orbital workloads

▸ Defense and commercial applications: early revenue streams for space compute

▸ The roadmap to gigawatt-scale solar arrays and modular space construction

▸ Geopolitical implications: space as the new frontier for AI and defense

▸ Vision 2035: when most new data centers might be built in space

▸ From asteroid mining to Mars colonies: the broader space economy revolution

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🧠 Follow the Alpha

▸ Philip's Twitter: @PhilipJohnst0n

▸ Starcloud's Twitter: @Starcloud_Inc1

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Yy99ZlQIX9-PdG_xHj43Q

Timestamps

00:00 — Intro: Philip Johnston, Star Cloud

01:30 — Vision: data centers in space

02:00 — Launch costs drop: $60K → $500/kg with Starship

03:30 — Pivot: solar power → orbital compute

05:00 — Background: five brothers, sci-fi dreams

07:00 — Building the team: SpaceX & Microsoft vets

08:15 — Early tests: deployables in the living room

09:30 — Challenges: radiation & heat

11:00 — Radiation: LEO to deep space

12:30 — Orbits: dawn-dusk, no shadow

14:00 — Debris myths: Kessler overblown

17:00 — Space weather: flares & Carrington events

19:00 — Heat: radiating 5 GW in space

21:00 — Connectivity: Starlink for workloads

22:00 — Earth’s heat problem: compute to space

24:00 — Regulation: faster in orbit

25:30 — Model: energy provider, not hardware owner

26:30 — November launch: H100 + Gemini

28:00 — Defense & data security in orbit

29:00 — Gigawatt arrays: modular builds, 2030s

30:30 — Breakeven: launch costs vs viability

32:00 — Bitcoin mining: using spare capacity

33:15 — Space internet: real challenges

35:00 — Geopolitics: defending assets in orbit

37:00 — Sci-fi: Dyson spheres & missions

39:00 — AI risks & Fermi Paradox

41:00 — Future: Mars & asteroid mining

42:30 — 2035: space as default

44:00 — Competition: hyperscalers & startups

45:00 — Lessons: gov relations & realities

45:45 — Book: Elon Musk bio

Disclaimer

This podcast is strictly informational and educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any tokens or securities or to make any financial decisions. Do not trade or invest in any project, tokens, or securities based upon this podcast episode. The host and members at Delphi Ventures may personally own tokens or art that are mentioned on the podcast. Our current show features paid sponsorships which may be featured at the start, middle, and/or the end of the episode. These sponsorships are for informational purposes only and are not a solicitation to use any product, service or token.