Commonwealth Countries Offered Space-Based Data Storage Under New SMI and Lonestar Partnership

Commonwealth countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, are being offered access to space-based data storage under a new initiative announced during CHOGM 2026, as efforts intensify to protect critical digital information and develop more resilient technology infrastructure.

The Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) and Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. announced the collaboration on Friday, November 6, following discussions at the SMI Business Forum in Antigua and Barbuda.

The initiative includes a commitment to provide one terabyte of data storage to every Commonwealth country, while exploring how information stored beyond Earth could provide an additional layer of protection for important government, environmental and institutional records.

At the centre of the partnership is Lonestar's planned StarVault mission, which will use a low Earth orbit platform to preserve selected digital information.

Among the materials expected to be stored are approved digital copies of the SMI's Astra Carta and Terra Carta charters, alongside selected environmental and climate-related data.

The information will be placed in a secure, immutable archive designed to preserve records beyond conventional Earth-based storage systems.

The SMI, founded by King Charles III in 2020 when he was Prince of Wales, said the collaboration is intended to demonstrate how space-based technology could strengthen data protection while supporting sustainability in the growing space economy.

The proposed system would complement existing terrestrial data infrastructure rather than replace it, offering governments and organisations another option for safeguarding information.

The partnership will also explore how orbital data storage could support countries seeking greater control over their information and reduce vulnerabilities associated with traditional storage systems.

Another focus is the environmental impact of digital infrastructure.

According to the organisations, data centres operating in space could benefit from access to solar energy and cooling conditions that may reduce certain operational costs and resource requirements.

The collaboration will examine how sustainability principles can be incorporated into the development of future space-based data systems.

Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, Chief Executive Officer of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, said the partnership reflects the increasing importance of space technology in protecting digital infrastructure and supporting environmental monitoring.

“Space is becoming increasingly important to the resilience of our digital infrastructure and our ability to understand and protect our planet,” she said.

“This collaboration with Lonestar offers an exciting opportunity to demonstrate how innovation in space-based data infrastructure can help safeguard important records while bringing sustainability into the design of the next generation of space technologies.”

Jordan-Saifi also highlighted the importance of the Astra Carta, an SMI framework designed to promote responsible and sustainable development within the space industry.

She said the initiative seeks to ensure that sustainability becomes a central consideration as commercial and technological activities expand beyond Earth.

Lonestar Data Holdings Chief Executive Officer Stephen Eisele described the collaboration as an opportunity to demonstrate the practical applications of off-world data preservation.

“Data protection and sustainability are becoming increasingly connected questions for governments and businesses,” Eisele said.

“This collaboration gives us a practical way to demonstrate secure, off-world data preservation while highlighting the importance of building the next generation of digital infrastructure responsibly.”

The planned StarVault mission will bring together the SMI's sustainability charters and selected environmental information in an orbital storage platform, providing a demonstration of how important records could be preserved outside traditional data centres.

The Astra Carta builds on the principles of the Terra Carta, extending the SMI's sustainability objectives into space exploration, technology and infrastructure development.

The announcement adds a technological dimension to the discussions surrounding CHOGM 2026, where Commonwealth governments and business leaders have been examining opportunities for investment, innovation and stronger international cooperation.

While the partnership and storage commitment have been announced, the StarVault archival mission remains planned, with its practical capabilities to be demonstrated through the proposed deployment.