Publications Journal article · Orbital computing · 2026

Optimal Design of Space-Based Data Center Constellations for In-Orbit Computing Services

Wenxiao Ge, Juan A. Fraire, and Kanglian Zhao

IEEE Communications Letters, vol. 30, pp. 1880–1884, 2026

Abstract

With the increasing demand for in-orbit computing services, the architectural design of Space-Based Data Center (SBDC) constellations has emerged as a critical research challenge. However, existing design methodologies remain tailored to traditional constellations and lack specialized models to evaluate the unique cost-performance trade-offs. This letter proposes a comprehensive multi-objective optimization model for SBDC constellation design, aiming to minimize cost and delay while maximizing computational performance. To efficiently solve this complex problem, a novel SBDC Constellation Design Optimization (SCDO) framework, built upon NSGA-II, is developed to obtain the optimal constellation architectures. Extensive simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework, reveal two primary design paradigms, and provide an in-depth analysis of the impact of task characteristics.

Cite

DOI 10.1109/lcomm.2026.3688042

BibTeX

@article{DBLP:journals/icl/GeFZ26,
  author  = {Wenxiao Ge and Juan A. Fraire and Kanglian Zhao},
  title   = {Optimal Design of Space-Based Data Center Constellations for In-Orbit Computing Services},
  journal = {IEEE Communications Letters},
  volume  = {30},
  pages   = {1880--1884},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.1109/lcomm.2026.3688042}
}

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