Space-based data centers

A space-based data center comprising a plurality of orbital server modules configured to be deployed in space, each module comprising:

• a communication subsystem configured for module-to-module communications to form a complete data center;
• a command subsystem configured to adapt to changing the number of modules in the data center;
• a plurality of tiles arranged in a planar array, where each tile has a layered structure comprising:
• a plurality of solar cells forming a layer across a first surface of the planar array;
• a plurality of thermal radiator panels forming a layer across a second surface of the planar array;
• a plurality of electronic components distributed laterally in a layer between the layer of solar cells and the layer of thermal radiator panels;
• where each electronic component receives power locally from solar cells that are proximate to it and rejects heat to the thermal radiator panel beneath it;
• where a first subset of tiles within the plurality of tiles are compute tiles in which the electronic components include one or more computing processors and memory;
• and
• where a second subset of tiles within the plurality of tiles are support tiles in which the electronics components include network switches and energy storage.