Atomic-6, a space systems manufacturer, announced the launch of ODC.space, a new marketplace where AI developers, software providers, and government agencies can secure orbital data centre (ODC) capacity on-demand. ODC.space enables visitors to immediately spec, price, and order data centre capacity, avoiding the cost and complexity of designing, building, and operating their own satellite programs. The marketplace will deliver sovereign (organisation-owned) or colocated (rented) capacity onboard orbital data centres in 2-3 years compared with terrestrial data centre timelines that exceed 5 years.

The launch of ODC.space, powered by Atomic-6, comes as terrestrial data centre expansion faces compounding constraints, including land availability, grid capacity, and regulatory friction.

ODC.space

“What customers get is a single path from requirements to on-orbit operations,” said Col. Chris Hadfield, Atomic-6 Board of Advisors member. “You don’t need to stand up a satellite program to deploy compute capacity in space. You contract capacity, Atomic-6 delivers and operates the system, and the front end looks like a data centre, not a spacecraft.”

The power, land, and resource requirements for AI data centre build outs have raised concerns about the sustainability of projected AI growth. Putting data centres in orbit will be a greener, more secure, and more expedient way of deploying AI infrastructure than the terrestrial standard. The space industry has matured into a high-rate manufacturing and launch ecosystem capable of deploying hardware on competitive timelines.

“On the ground, AI infrastructure is increasingly gated by ‘big iron’ bottlenecks: transformers, turbines, transmission upgrades, and permitting,” said Hadfield in a newly released white paper. “Space systems operate under a different regulatory regime, with more predictable licensing pathways and fewer public-facing constraints.”

Space offers a solution as a setting for these intensive activities to happen safely outside of the biosphere, eliminating the need for new power plants and excessive water consumption. Where land is protected or unavailable, customers can build compute volume and access in space, with regular access to laser internet backhaul. Where a terrestrial data centre build up can require environmental impact analysis and comment periods, ODCs offer faster timelines to deployment.

A Marketplace Model for Orbital Compute

Orbital computing is not for every workload. But when security, speed, and global reach matter, space can outperform Earth. Systems are physically isolated, harder to tamper with, and faster when the data already lives in orbit.

The platform targets organisations investing in long-term AI and data infrastructure that are blocked by space, power, or deployment constraints on the ground, not by capital.

How It Works

“The promise here is not hype,” said  Trevor Smith, founder and CEO of Atomic-6. “We provide systems engineering to make an easy, turnkey solution with no-nonsense pricing to answer customer questions about what’s possible and on what timelines. This represents a maturation of the ODC market, where users are more interested in contracts than projections.”

Atomic-6 sources spacecraft build, launch services, and operations from their domestic partner network, integrates customer- furnished processing units into the spacecraft, and carries out all necessary licensing and operational requirements necessary to bring customer’s compute into orbit.

ODC.space, powered by Atomic-6, will handle:

• Spacecraft Integration and Mission Operations: The service includes spacecraft build, customer hardware integration, and launch services, all delivered within 2-3 years from order.
• Spectrum Filings and Operational Licensing: Management of all required spectrum coordination, regulatory approvals, and licenses required by the FCC, NOAA, and FAA.
• End-to-End Mission Control and Service Operations: The service includes 24/7 mission control, monitoring, and ongoing support to operate the orbital data centre for 5 years with an option for up to 7 years
• Communications Capacity: Built-in high-speed connectivity starting at 1 Gbps to move large volumes of data to and from orbit

Designed as Infrastructure, Built to Last

ODC.space, powered by Atomic-6, addresses the three constraints that have historically limited compute scaling into space: power density, thermal rejection, and survivability.

Core Enabling Technologies

• Light Wing™ power systems deploy large-area, lightweight solar arrays optimised for high specific power, enabling continuous on-orbit energy generation without reliance on terrestrial grids.
• Hot Wing™ thermal radiator systems provide deployable radiator surface area to dissipate heat generated by high-density compute workloads, in a form factor lighter and stiffer than other radiator designs.
• Space Armor® shielding hardens the platform against micrometeoroids and orbital debris (MMOD), supporting longer mission lifetimes and reduced replacement cycles.

 

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