Data centers in orbit: infrastructure, operations, and policy
This workshop brings together participants from industry, government, and academia to explore both research frontiers and practical challenges in building data centers and computing infrastructure in orbital environments.
As data center expansion on Earth places growing demands on existing power grids and water systems, computing in orbit is emerging as a bold complement to terrestrial infrastructure. Our goal is to identify emerging issues and possible collaborations toward building large-scale space data centers — and to define how each sector can contribute to this integrated effort, from earth-to-orbit supply chains to in-space assembly, operations, and policy.
Workshop topics
- In-space computing architectures and data-center infrastructure
- In-space manufacturing, assembly, and deployment
- Launch logistics, operations, and supply chain management — including earth-to-orbit supply chains connecting launch activities to "last-mile" logistics for in-space data center assembly
- Business models, investment, and economic viability
- Regulatory and policy landscape
- Environmental impact and sustainability — including terrestrial data center demands on power grids and water systems, and how the energy sector can benefit from in-space data centers
- AI and data workloads for orbital platforms
- Resilience, security, and fault tolerance
- In-space autonomous systems, human-robot interaction and teaming
Sponsors
College of Engineering, Office of the Associate Dean for Research (ADR) · Michigan Institute for Computational Discovery and Engineering (MICDE) · Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering (IOE) · Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) · Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) · Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) · Aerospace Engineering (AERO) · Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering (CLaSP) · Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), Bold Challenge Program
Who you'll hear from
All speakers and panelists are listed alphabetically by last name.
Speakers
Panelists (tentative)
Other Participants
Register to attend
Registration is free but required — space is limited and catering counts are needed. Please register by Monday, September 14, 2026.
The workshop spans 1.5 days: a full program on Thursday, September 24, and a half-day of technical talks and in-depth working-group discussions on Friday morning, September 25.
Register nowQuestions about registration? Contact GOspaceDC-workshop@umich.edu.
Getting here & where to stay
Venue
Day 1 (Thursday, September 24): Rackham Amphitheater, 4th Floor, Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan, 915 E Washington St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 — through the afternoon panels, then the group moves to the IOE Building on North Campus for the poster session, reception, and career fair (4:00–5:30 PM).
Day 2 (Friday, September 25): IOE Commons, G690 & G610, 1205 Beal Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
Please note: food and drinks are not permitted in the Rackham Amphitheater (only water is allowed); no breakfast will be served during Thursday check-in.
Hotel options — nights of September 23 & 24
Room blocks under the group name "U-M Space Data Center Workshop" have been reserved at the hotels below (the Residence Inn block is under "UM Industrial Operations Engineering Block"). Rates are per night, plus tax. Please book through the guest booking links before each block expires — the earliest deadline is August 23, 2026.
| Hotel | Nightly rate | Parking | Room block |
|---|---|---|---|
| DoubleTree by Hilton Ann Arbor North 3600 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 |
$142 + tax | No charge | Expires Sept 6, 2026 Guest booking link → |
| Vanguard Hotel 201 Glen Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
$269 + tax | Valet only: $40 per night | Expires Sept 2, 2026 Guest booking link → |
| Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown 120 W. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
$180 + tax (breakfast included) |
Valet: $38 per night · off-site parking in nearby Ashley and Ann garage | Expires Aug 23, 2026 Guest booking link → |
About the hotels. The DoubleTree Ann Arbor North sits on Plymouth Road closest to North Campus (roughly a mile away, a few minutes by car or bus), with free on-site parking — the most convenient and economical option if the venue is on North Campus. The Vanguard Hotel, an Autograph Collection property on Glen Avenue, is the most upscale of the three and sits right at the edge of Central Campus, steps from the Medical Campus and a short walk to downtown. The Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown is in the heart of downtown on Huron Street, with suite-style rooms and breakfast included, within easy walking distance of Central Campus, restaurants, and the Amtrak station.
Getting to the Rackham Amphitheater (Day 1)
The Rackham Building is on Central Campus at 915 E. Washington St., at the corner of Washington and Fletcher; the Amphitheater is on the 4th floor. Open in Google Maps · Rackham Building information (rackham.umich.edu). Metered street parking and the nearby Forest and Church Street structures serve the building; U-M campus buses (Central Campus routes) and TheRide also stop within a short walk.
Getting to the IOE Building (Day 1 late afternoon & Day 2)
The Industrial and Operations Engineering Building is on North Campus at 1205 Beal Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109. Open in Google Maps · Department of Industrial & Operations Engineering (ioe.engin.umich.edu) · Directions & contact info. On Thursday, the group travels from Rackham to the IOE Building as a group (3:15–3:45 PM); no separate transportation booking is needed. Visitor parking is available in the North Campus structures near Beal Avenue, and the free U-M Blue Bus routes connect North Campus to Central Campus and downtown hotels (see below).
Getting between Central Campus and North Campus
The University of Michigan's Central Campus (downtown Ann Arbor) and North Campus are about 2 miles / 10 minutes apart by car, separated by the Huron River. The easiest connection is the free U-M campus bus system, which anyone may ride — no ID required. Blue Buses on the Commuter North and Bursley–Baits routes run every 5–10 minutes on weekdays between the Central Campus Transit Center (on North University Ave.) and North Campus stops including the Duderstadt Center and Pierpont Commons; the ride takes about 10–15 minutes. Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) between the two campuses typically costs $8–12 and takes under 10 minutes. Walking is possible but not recommended between sessions — it's a 35–45 minute uphill route via the Broadway or Fuller Road bridges. TheRide (AAATA) public buses also connect downtown with the Plymouth Road corridor near the DoubleTree.
Traveling to Ann Arbor
By air. The closest major airport is Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), about 25 miles (30–40 minutes by car) from Ann Arbor, with nonstop service from most major U.S. cities and many international destinations. Ground options from DTW include rental cars, taxis and rideshare (Uber/Lyft, typically $50–70 to Ann Arbor), and the Michigan Flyer / AirRide motorcoach, which runs frequent daily departures between DTW and downtown Ann Arbor (Blake Transit Center) at roughly $15–18 one way; advance booking is recommended.
By train. Amtrak's Wolverine line serves the Ann Arbor station (325 Depot St.) with several daily trains connecting Chicago, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Detroit, and Pontiac. The station is a 10–15 minute walk or short rideshare from Central Campus and downtown hotels.
By car. Ann Arbor is reached via I-94 (east–west) and US-23 (north–south), about 45 minutes from Detroit and 4 hours from Chicago. Visitor parking is available in public structures and lots; workshop-specific parking guidance will be posted with the venue details.
Getting around. Downtown Ann Arbor and Central Campus are compact and walkable. TheRide (AAATA) local buses, free U-M campus buses, and rideshare cover longer hops, including between downtown hotels and North Campus.
Thursday–Friday, September 24–25, 2026
Day 1 (Thursday) meets in the Rackham Amphitheater, 4th Floor, Rackham Graduate School through the afternoon panels, then moves to the IOE Building on North Campus for the poster session, reception, and career fair. Day 2 (Friday morning) meets in the IOE Commons, G690/G610. All times Eastern; talks and panels are tentative and to be updated as we receive more participation confirmations.
9:40 · From Chip to Orbit: Integrated Photonics for Space-Based Computing, Communications and Beyond — Di Liang, Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan
10:00 · In-Space Logistics and Its Challenges — Koki Ho, Dutton-Ducoffe Professor & Associate Professor, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
10:20 · Human-Robot Teaming in Space — Leia Stirling, Professor, Director of Center for Ergonomics, IOE & Robotics, University of Michigan
Panelists: Kiko Dontchev (VP of Launch, SpaceX); Linkan Bian (Professor & Department Head, Oklahoma State University); Jeff Scruggs (CEE, UMich)
1:35 · Microconcentrating photovoltaics for space power — Chris Giebink, Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan
1:55 · Emerging Ferroelectric Nitride Technologies for Space and Data-Center Electronics — Zetian Mi, Pallab K. Bhattacharya Collegiate Professor of Engineering; Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan
Panelists: Karthik Duraisamy (Professor, AERO; Director, MICDE, UMich); Muhammad Shahbaz (CSE, UMich); Di Liang (EECS, UMich)
Panelists: TBD
2) Meeting Employers (Career Fair): informal conversations with sponsor companies and industry partners about internships and open roles
3) Meeting Collaborators: open networking space for forming new research collaborations across institutions and sectors
Call for student posters
Students and postdoctoral researchers are invited to present posters during the poster session, reception, and career fair, 4:00 – 5:30 PM on September 24, in the IOE Building (North Campus).
Posters may address any workshop topic: in-space computing architectures and hardware; in-space manufacturing, assembly, and deployment; launch logistics and earth-to-orbit supply chains; AI and data workloads for orbital platforms; resilience, security, and fault tolerance; autonomous systems and human-robot teaming; business models and economic viability; regulatory and policy issues; and environmental, energy, and sustainability dimensions of data centers on Earth and in space.
Key dates
- Poster abstract submission deadline: Monday, September 14, 2026
- Notification of acceptance: Friday, September 18, 2026
- Workshop & poster session: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Format & logistics
- Recommended poster size: 36″ × 48″ (portrait or landscape); easels and poster boards provided
- Set up at the IOE Building upon arrival (around 4:00 PM); be available at your poster during the 4:00 – 5:30 PM poster session, reception, and career fair
- All poster presenters must also register for the workshop (registration is free)
Who's organizing
University Leadership & Sponsoring Department Chairs
Sponsors
- College of Engineering, Office of the Associate Dean for Research (ADR)
- Michigan Institute for Computational Discovery and Engineering (MICDE)
- Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering (IOE)
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
- Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE)
- Computer Science & Engineering (CSE)
- Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering (CLaSP)
- Aerospace Engineering (AERO)
- Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), Bold Challenge Program
Contact: GOspaceDC-workshop@umich.edu