Space-based data centers won’t need to overcome zoning hurdles, secure rights-of-way or wait for utility interconnections. Data centers are expected to fuel almost half the growth in US electricity demand by 2030, worsening bottlenecks and straining the grid. More intriguingly, orbital data centers — which will require repeated deliveries of hardware, arrays and so on — could create sustained demand for heavy-lift rocket launches. In short, orbital data centers may prove to be a completely irrational business venture. Whatever the fate of data centers, such steps will only accelerate American spacefaring and innovation.