Orbital Taps Reflex Aerospace for 100,000-Node Space Data Center Constellation
Los Angeles-based Orbital has secured a deal with Germany’s Reflex Aerospace to build the backbone of its massive orbital computing network, targeting a 2028 launch for the high-power Nvidia-compatible platform.
Transatlantic Compute Alliance
Orbital, a Los Angeles-based startup, has finalized an exclusive partnership with German satellite manufacturer Reflex Aerospace to develop its first hardware platform, Orbital-1. According to Payload, the deal marks the beginning of an ambitious roadmap to deploy up to 100,000 orbital data centers (ODCs) in low Earth orbit.
Reflex will provide the flight-tested satellite bus—the spacecraft’s core architecture—allowing Orbital to focus exclusively on high-density compute payloads. The current mission profile targets a 2028 launch date. Each unit is designed to house a full Nvidia Vera Rubin rack, necessitating a significant power increase from the original 100 kW target to approximately 250 kW per satellite. This power profile matches SpaceX’s AI1 benchmarks, which Orbital CEO Euwyn Poon identifies as the new industry standard.
Scaling Beyond Earth
The move to space is driven by terrestrial resource scarcity. Poon notes that competition for land, energy, and cooling on Earth has reached a ceiling, whereas space offers an infinite heat sink and unobstructed solar energy. The partnership with Reflex is the first step in a "global build" strategy; Orbital intends to source manufacturing from various sovereign partners, including future expansions into Southeast Asia.
The Mass Production Model
To remain competitive against well-funded incumbents like Starcloud, Orbital is prioritizing cost-efficiency over traditional aerospace heritage. The strategy includes:
Commercial Components: Utilizing silicon solar cells rather than specialized space-grade panels.
Automotive Production: Implementing assembly lines geared for mass manufacturing rather than hand-built craft.
* Launch Agnostic Design: While Orbital anticipates using SpaceX’s Starship for deployment, the hardware is designed to be compatible with any heavy-lift provider capable of securing economical launch windows.