Starcloud has launched the first satellite equipped with an NVIDIA H100 GPU, marking a pivotal step toward orbital AI data centers. By harnessing uninterrupted solar power and using space’s cold vacuum for passive cooling, these centers eliminate the need for fresh water and reduce environmental impact. The team, backed by Y Combinator, built their 60-kilogram prototype in just 15 months and successfully launched it on November 2nd. Originally exploring space-based solar energy, they pivoted to computing as a more viable path amid falling launch costs. Their next mission, expected by October next year, will use NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture to deliver ten times more computing power. As tech giants like Google, SpaceX, and Amazon begin eyeing orbital infrastructure, Starcloud aims to position space as the next critical layer of global AI compute—scalable, sustainable, and independent of Earth's strained resources.