Appendix A–C: Specifications, Launch Vehicles and Regulatory Checklist
What does the reference satellite look like, which launchers can carry it, and which licences does it need?
Chapter summary
The technical appendix specifies a 700–1,000 kg satellite carrying one to four data-centre GPUs on 10–15 kW of solar power, compares 13 launch vehicles on capacity and cost per kilogram, and lists the licences each track needs, with timelines and costs.
Key takeaways
- 1
The reference satellite is 700–1,000 kg with 10–15 kW of solar power, one to four GPUs and a five-year design life.
- 2
Among operational launchers, New Glenn and Falcon Heavy are cheapest per kilogram (about €1,500–2,000); Ariane 62, the EU sovereignty option, costs about €7,000/kg.
- 3
Licensing is the long pole: the US track’s commercial FCC licence and the EU track’s national authorisation both precede launch.
Key figures in this chapter
- 700–1,000 kg
- satellite mass, wet
- 10–15 kW
- solar power at beginning of life
- 1–4
- NVIDIA H100/B200 GPUs per satellite
- 5 years
- design life, matched to GPU refresh
Source: Space-Based Datacenters Feasibility Study, February 2026 edition
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