Space datacenters proposed by SpaceX, Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin and others would release staggering levels of pollution that would probably alter the Earth’s atmosphere and be “catastrophic” for the planet, space industry experts and environmental groups warn in a new petition demanding a review of their impacts.
Tech companies have collectively proposed millions of “orbital datacenters” and are pressing forward with plans, which require Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval. Among other issues, pollution from satellites and rockets burning up upon re-entry appears to be accumulating in the stratosphere at alarming levels. The spacecraft release black soot, rare metals, aluminum oxides and other pollutants with unknown effects.
Some scientists fear the pollution could destroy the ozone layer, potentially expose some people to higher levels of ultraviolet radiation, or help further destabilize the planet during the climate crisis. The pollution could also end up back on Earth, and millions of satellites would create a major source of light pollution.
I’m far from a physicist, but wouldn’t a space data center be a massive black box generating heat? I’m not sure the current solutions for cooling in space could match that level of heat, but please correct me if I’m wrong
I made that comment on a different platform and got inundated with “space is cold dummy” comments.
Anyone that believes that space data centers are feasible deserves to lose their money.
It won’t be their money. They’ll get a sweet government contract, spend 10 years, produce nothing, pocket most of it, and issue a report that it isn’t feasible.
Seems like tilting at windmills when you realize these things are pure vaporware. Trying to calculate the ecological footprint of a pipe dream seems totally misplaced. Would make far more sense to fixate on real ones.
If Bezos/Musk want to claim all the data centers will be in orbit in another 20 years? Let them put their money where their mouths are and stop building terrestrial data centers in the meantime.
The fact that data centers are already one of the most expensive buildings to build on earth that require enough water and power for an entire city while using the most expensive cutting edge computer hardware on the planet that also requires skilled technicians 24/7.
Yeah they can do that in space. /s
I guess you could say the same thing about the ISS. I just don’t think anyone has ever accused it of being profitable.
the ISS contains roughly 50 installed computers and a few laptops, ranging from flight computers to tiny air chemistry monitors, all engineered for power and heat efficiency.
The ISS is one of the most expensive projects in history. A single data center would make the ISS seem like a child’s toy in cost and complexity. The scale of solar panels and cooling that would be required for that is comically enormous.
Yeah…fuck this stupidity. How many times can Musk fail on his bullshit.
As long as idiots keep pumping his stock he will be treated like a genius. There’s a lot a sad idiots with gambling addiction that think they’re just one stock trade away from being rich.
You morons barely have a grasp on cooling data centers on Earth & you think you can do it in LEO?
You fucking morons.
I’m wondering what their play is. obviously they are aware this ain’t happening, given you can solve each physics and energy contradiction, paying 10.000 times more for compute is gonna have a hard time on the free market.
but just like putting all cars in tunnels underground or the hypertube were cynical distraction strategies against public transport, this has to have an ulterior motive as well. I just have a hard time imagining what…
…this has to have an ulterior motive as well. I just have a hard time imagining what…
That’s because we’re not super villains, cuz I can’t either.
Let’s build just one as a prototype. The billionaires can tag along for the initial launch ride. And if we “accidentally” send it on a collision course with the sun, I’m sure the billionaires can figure a way out of that situation using their unparalleled genius and work ethic.
Just for the sake of efficiency, it would take less delta-v to eject them out of the Solar system altogether. It only takes 13 km/sec to get from Earth orbit to Solar escape velocity, but to get to the Sun, you have to cancel out Earth’s 29.7 km/sec orbital velocity.
Cant we just push them at a direction and speed that they will eventually enter the suns orbit? It doesn’t need to be straight away.
Some scientists fear the pollution could destroy the ozone layer, potentially expose some people to higher levels of ultraviolet radiation, or help further destabilize the planet during the climate crisis. The pollution could also end up back on Earth, and millions of satellites would create a major source of light pollution.
Scumbag billionaires: from my climate controlled, safe zone, guarded compound I literally see 0 issue. You’re just alarmists.
FCC: profits? Profits!? Of course you can do this! Ensure proper donations arrive at the Not Donald J Trumps Personal Account before I pass this.
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You letting these people have money and make decisions is what killed everyone.
