• sys110x@aussie.zone
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    22 days ago

    It’s really difficult to cool things in space, and it’s really difficult to power stationary things in space. It’s also really expensive to put things in space so size/weight is a problem.

    So if it’s not cheaper/better for cooling, and it’s not cheaper/better for power, and it’s not cheaper/better for rack space… why is there a focus on shipping compute to space?

    The point I keep coming back to is that it’s really hard for the public to protest/damage/destroy data centres in space.

    • BassTurd@lemmy.world
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      21 days ago

      Even if they could pull it off, the data transmission speed would be sooooo bad relative to what it would take to ingest insane amount of data and then regurgitate it back.

    • asmoranomar@lemmy.world
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      20 days ago

      The only legitimate thing I can think of is that if we ever colonize the moon or mars, we are going to need compute and storage at the location. If we can launch equipment into orbit instead of waiting until it’s needed then it’ll give a headstart to test different solutions. If we can also figure out how to do that without having to build it or maintain it on the moon/mars, then that might result in less risk. But it’s all conjecture and you don’t know what you don’t know unless you try.

  • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
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    22 days ago

    I wonder how they’re going to cool it?

    Edit: Oh. So they’re just… not doing that. Okay. Hmm.

    In the meantime, the company is taking baby steps. For now, the company is limited to just 15 minutes of operation in space before the chips have to be shut off to cool back down.

    • spiffmeister@aussie.zone
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      21 days ago

      Not only that but,

      …until it meets its final demise by burning up in the atmosphere.

      Can’t event be recycled in any way. Literally maximum waste.

  • Hayduke@lemmy.world
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    22 days ago

    Brilliant. They should invest every penny into this. If they got this far without even referencing a 6th grade science book, they deserve to go under.

  • NGC2346@sh.itjust.works
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    22 days ago

    dogshit ass timeline where billionaire sociopaths keep doing the wrong things got me truly irritated since 2020

  • floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    20 days ago

    the prototype satellite is part of the tech giant’s Project Suncatcher. As its name suggests, the goal is to take advantage of unfiltered sunlight around the clock to power AI data centers in our planet’s orbit — instead of crushing the electrical grid, spewing copious amounts of pollution, and draining fresh water supplies back on the ground.

    They know they could use solar on the ground too right? They are making it seem like they care about the environment, but if there was a way to suck hydrocarbon power from the surface they would 100% do it

  • Yukonfooty@lemmy.ca
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    21 days ago

    Just waiting for them to realize it’s more cost-effective to just keep destroying the environment.

    • FurryMemesAccount@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      20 days ago

      Throwing shit in space burns heaps more CO2 than building it on the ground ya know, this destroys the environment more than if they were building it down here

  • CheeseNoodle@lemmy.world
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    20 days ago

    Building a relatively puny and ineffective data center because they’re idiots? perhaps. Doing it knowing it’ll provide overwhelming evidence that the idea is really dumb and making some well timed shorts against a certain launch company with an inflated value that’s been touting this very concept, maybe? (idk what I’m really talking about but it’s what comes to mind.)