Sophia Space and Caltech secured a patent for orbital data centers using passive cooling. The TILE (Thermal Integrated LEO Edge) architecture uses flat, 4-inch-square modular tiles with four processors each, drawing solar power on the sunlit side and radiating heat from the dark side. This avoids centralized cooling systems, enabling scalability.

Founder Leon Alkalai developed the concept after a 32-year JPL career. The patent, filed October 2024 and granted July 14, lists seven inventors including JPL and Caltech researchers. Alkalai says the "eureka moment" came balancing solar absorption, chip power, and heat radiation.

Sophia plans a technology demonstrator next year with Apex Satellites' Nova bus, then commercial sales in 2028 and a constellation test in 2029-2030. Alkalai views the patent as enabling licensing, not blocking competitors like SpaceX's Starmind or Starcloud.

The approach addresses terrestrial data center constraints—real estate and grid demand—while solving orbital cooling. Alkalai believes TILE will become the standard for space-based AI computing, benefiting humanity's space economy.