Rick Ward

Bio:

Richard “Rick” is a creative problem solver, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and startup veteran. As Founder of OrbitsEdge, he is working to bring high-performance computing and autonomy to space through shielding, ruggedized hardware, sensors, and telemetry analytics. His vision centers on modular, scalable space-based data centers that support orbital edge computing, autonomous operations, and in-space manufacturing.

Rick’s space industry roots began at Deep Space Industries, where he developed and tested asteroid regolith simulants for in-space resource utilization. That work highlighted the need for autonomy—and the advanced computing infrastructure required to enable it. Recognizing the limitations of existing space compute systems, he founded OrbitsEdge to develop a sustainable architecture for deploying and upgrading powerful commercial computing hardware in demanding environments.

A frequent speaker and contributor to space computing conferences, podcasts, and publications, Rick sees orbital data centers as essential infrastructure for a growing space economy. He envisions a future in which an increasing share of humanity’s computing takes place in space, supporting both terrestrial needs and expanding activity beyond Earth.