Axiom Space and Spacebilt plan to install an optically interconnected orbital data center node on the International Space Station in 2027. Credit: Axiom Space

As the space industry explores orbital data centers to meet growing demands for sovereignty, resilience and sustainability, one critical lens remains underutilized: cost. Not just launch cost or CapEx; but total cost of ownership, sourcing strategy and operational efficiency.

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John David Callison is a global strategic sourcing executive and civic leader with over two decades of experience negotiating and operationalizing technology infrastructure across hyperscale cloud platforms, AI ecosystems and mission-critical data environments,...

Joseph Minafra serves as Lead of Innovation and Technical Partnerships for the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) at NASA Ames Research Center. With a diverse background spanning collaborative technology development, meteoritic...