Name: Data Storage in Outer Space: Overcoming the Obstacles
Start: 2026-06-09T19:00:00-07:00
End: 2026-06-09T21:00:00-07:00
Location: 925 Thompson Pl

We are on the brink of a new industrial revolution with development beyond our planet. Reliable data storage and processing will be key.
About this Event

Join us for Data Storage in Outer Space: Overcoming the Obstacles, an event on Tue, June 9, 2026 at 7-9pm at Covalent, 925 Thompson Place, Sunnyvale, CA 94085.

We'll have free quality pizza and drinks starting at 6:30pm. Come early and network with our members, other engineers, interested parties, and possible consulting clients.

A Zoom option for this hybrid event is at

https://californiaconsultants.org/event/data-storage-in-outer-space-overcoming-the-obstacles/

NOTE: As in-person registration closes at Noon on Monday, June 8, only the Zoom option is available after that.

Description: After a 50-year hiatus, multiple countries are racing to be the first to return to the Moon. Lower launch costs are enabling more satellites to be put into low earth orbit, and data centers in space and on the moon are being planned. In addition, preparations are afoot for harvesting and mining the moon and asteroids, as well as for colonizing Mars.

It appears that we are on the brink of a new industrial revolution with development beyond our planet, and reliable data storage and processing will be key requirements to make all of this the new reality. However, these harsh environments present obstacles that must be overcome for the ambitious plans to become reality.

In this talk, Dr. Tom Coughlin will discuss many of the requirements for this new revolution, and some of the technologies that look to make this possible.

Bio: Tom Coughlin is President of Coughlin Associates, where he is a digital storage analyst and business/technology consultant. He has been in the data storage industry for over 40 years in engineering and senior management positions, and is active with SNIA, SMPTE and IEEE-CNSV.

Dr. Coughlin consults, publishes books and market and technology reports, and runs digital storage and memory-oriented events. He is a regular contributor to the forbes.com, and to M&E organization websites. Tom is an IEEE Fellow "for leadership in consumer electronics digital storage technology", 2024 IEEE President, IEEE-USA Past President, Past Director of IEEE Region 6, Past Chair of the IEEE Santa Clara Valley Section, and past IEEE-CNSV Chair.