Events

Past Event

AI Data Centers: Is Space the Next Frontier?

October 20, 2026
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
America/New_York
The Forum at Columbia University, 601 W. 125th St., New York, NY 10027 Auditorium

Advance registration is required, and walk-ups will not be permitted. In-person attendance will only be permitted until the venue has reached seated capacity and we advise attendees to arrive early to secure a seat.

Putting data centers in space once seemed fanciful. Today, a growing number of companies have started doing so. This activity is concentrated in the United States but spread across at least a dozen countries globally. If current proposals are fully implemented, more than one million satellites with computing capacity could be orbiting the Earth in the decades ahead.

Are space-based data centers technically and economically feasible? What risks would mega constellations of space-based data centers create? Are current national and international governance regimes adequate to address these risks? Join the lead authors of a major new report on these topics for a presentation of their findings and discussion of the issues raised.

Featured speakers include:

  • Neil deGrasse Tyson, Frederick P. Rose Director, Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, Astrophysicist, Author, and Host, StarTalk Podcast
  • Alexis Abramson, Dean, Columbia Climate School, and Professor of Climate
  • David Sandalow, Inaugural Fellow, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA, and Host, AI, Energy, and Climate Podcast
  • Nobuo Tanaka, Non-Resident Fellow, Center on Global Energy Policy, and former International Energy Agency Executive Director

This event is hosted by the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA and the Columbia Climate School – October 20 from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. at The Forum.

Disruptive or discriminatory behavior, including speech that borders on harassment, exclusion, and intimidation, will not be tolerated at CGEP and SIPA events and violators may face disciplinary action. Please consult the Office of Institutional Equity, and Rules of University Conduct for more information. 

 

Contact Information

Center on Global Energy Policy