Lonestar, a data storage and resilience company, and Phison, a semiconductor and storage company, have collaborated to launch a data center infrastructure on a SpaceX rocket, which is headed to the moon. This innovative project aims to create a lunar data center, the first of its kind, with the initial launch marking the beginning of a significant milestone in space-based data storage.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, scheduled to land on March 4, will carry Phison’s Pascari storage, comprising solid-state drives (SSDs) designed for data centers, loaded with data from Lonestar’s clients. This initial launch is expected to pave the way for the expansion of the lunar data center, which will eventually have a storage capacity of one petabyte.

According to Chris Stott, founder, chair, and CEO of Lonestar, the concept of building a data center in space was conceived in 2018, in response to the growing demand for secure data storage. Stott emphasized that customers were seeking ways to store their data off Earth to protect it from climate disasters, hacking, and other potential threats. He noted that data has become a highly valuable resource, often referred to as the “new oil,” but Stott believes it is even more precious.

Stott explained that partnering with Phison was a natural choice, given the company’s expertise in providing storage solutions for space missions, including NASA’s Perseverance Rover on Mars. Phison’s Imagine Plus design service, which develops custom storage solutions for unique projects, was also a key factor in the collaboration. Michael Wu, general manager and president of Phison, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating that the company was able to customize its standard products to meet Lonestar’s specific needs.

Lonestar and Phison have been working together since 2021 to develop SSD storage units designed for space. The companies have spent years testing the product to ensure its reliability, as any issues that arise cannot be easily fixed. Stott highlighted the importance of SSDs, citing their lack of moving parts as a significant advantage in space-based storage.

The technology has been launch-ready since 2023, and a successful test launch was conducted in early 2024. Wednesday’s launch included a variety of customer data, ranging from government agencies interested in disaster recovery to a space agency testing a large language model. The band Imagine Dragons also participated, sending a music video for one of their songs from the Starfield space game soundtrack.

Lonestar is not the only company exploring space-based data storage solutions. Another contender, Lumen Orbit, which recently rebranded as Starcloud, emerged from Y Combinator’s Summer 2024 batch and raised over $21 million in funding. As AI-driven demand for hardware accelerates, it is likely that more companies will pursue space-based storage solutions, which offer advantages such as nearly infinite storage capacity and solar energy.

Looking ahead, Lonestar plans to collaborate with satellite manufacturer Sidus Space to build six data storage spacecraft, expected to launch between 2027 and 2030. Stott reflected on the significance of the mission, noting that the level of professionalism and technological advancements are tremendous, with the Apollo program’s 2 kilobytes of RAM and 36 kilobytes of storage being eclipsed by the current mission’s 1 Gigabyte of RAM and 8 terabytes of storage.

In conclusion, the launch of the lunar data center infrastructure marks a significant milestone in the development of space-based data storage solutions. With the growing demand for secure and reliable data storage, companies like Lonestar and Phison are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see the innovations and advancements that emerge in the field of space-based data storage.