Ars Technica
Jeff Bezos throws his hat in the ring for an orbital data center megaconstellation, too
"Space-based data centers will be a complement to terrestrial infrastructure."
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/03/jeff-bezos-throws-his-hat-in-the-ring-for-an-orbital-data-center-megaconstellation-too/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social
Mar 20 at 2:48pmArsBot 🤖
Show threadTom Mar 20

@arstechnica wow. Data centers in space are bullshit on so many levels. Billionaires should stop doing drugs.

If you're wondering, why: This (German) article explains it: https://www.golem.de/news/obwohl-elon-musk-sie-toll-findet-rechenzentren-im-all-bleiben-eine-dumme-idee-2512-203319.html

Machs nicht!: Wirklich, Elon, Rechenzentren im All sind eine dumme Idee! - Golem.de

Elon Musk hält Rechenzentren im All noch immer für eine gute Idee. Aber wissenschaftliche Argumente werden ihn vor einem Fehler bewahren, oder?

Golem.de
Show threadƧƿѦςɛ♏ѦਹѤʞMar 20
@thomas @arstechnica
Fixing problems and upgrading hardware would be utterly impractical. Also the hardware would decay faster due to the increased background radiation. The whole thing is, as you say, absolute bullshit.
The only possible reason for wanting to store masses of data in low orbit would be if they imminently expect a large number of EMP events here on the surface.
#EMP
Show threadEnema CowboyMar 20
@spacemagick
An article I read suggested that a niche use case for when it would be beneficial to beat optical fiber speeds between world financial centers.
@thomas @arstechnica
Show threadJson DohMar 21
@Enema_Cowboy @spacemagick @thomas @arstechnica Nah... Just the cost of the loss of a pointless investment is still much lower than the risk of #FOMO
Show threadGrumpyDad 🇺🇦🇵🇸Mar 20
@arstechnica Kessler syndrome speed run
Show threadFinitumMar 20
@arstechnica just a cry for help. "Tax me, make me stop making bad choices!"
Show threadFediThing Mar 20

@arstechnica

Whaaat? Why?

What possible advantage is there in actually doing this?

"introducing a new compute tier that operates independently of Earth-based constraints"

What constraints are these? There's nothing about space that makes it easier to run data centres there, it makes zero sense. It costs a zillion dollars to get anything into orbit and once it's there it's impossible to maintain or fix or upgrade. It's also blasted with radiation.

Show threadErebusMar 20
@FediThing @arstechnica Whats more, it could have its own share of very expensive problems, like, we know the price of putting a kg o matter in orbit, sum that those things would be humongous just because for making that work up there you will need a whole forest of solar panels surrounding the thing to power it up... and the you have to factor maintenance.
Show threadEnema CowboyMar 20
@FediThing
Could there be a benefit for an extra-jurisdictional data center?
@arstechnica
Show threadFediThing Mar 20

@Enema_Cowboy @arstechnica

It would be a lot cheaper and easier to put it on a boat or something than to send it into orbit.

The cost of sending something into space is absolutely horrendous.

Show threadEnema CowboyMar 20
@FediThing
Theoretically the things are possible, but there are a lot of things that make them impractical. Lift costs being one of them.
@arstechnica
Show threadFediThing Mar 20

@Enema_Cowboy @arstechnica

What things are possible?

Show threadEnema CowboyMar 21

@FediThing @arstechnica

Orbital data centers are theoretically possible, at least from what I've read. But as has been pointed out, they are not feasible.

Show threadWesDymMar 21

@Enema_Cowboy Except that's a myth. It's an ignorant -- even childish -- sci-fi concept, the stuff of comic books and loud, fast movies.

Space is not jurisdictional in the same sense as the law and sea, but it's still covered by an abundance of law, that everyone -- even these stupid assholes -- is answerable to.

Show threadWesDymMar 21
@FediThing He's talking out of his ass. He doesn't actually know what he's talking about.
Show threadOliver SchafeldMar 20
Funny ideas people get when they have rockets to sell…
Show threadBobo_PK 🦄Mar 20
@arstechnica maintenance will be a bitch
Show threadMichael WeissMar 20

@arstechnica Elon is doing it to hide the losses SpaceX is accumulating. He hopes the hype distraction will lead to a successful IPO.

Jeff is doing it because, for a bunch of reasons I won't get into, Elon drives tech hype in a way that nobody else does today. Basically, Jeff is FOMOing.

It is hard to overstate how monumentally stupid the idea is.

Show threadPete's Mom 🍉 🇺🇦 ☮️Mar 20
@arstechnica
So these fuckers are going to create a dyson sphere around the earth?
Show threadTom ShaferMar 22
@arstechnica Bezos, proving that wealth does not equal wisdom.
https://youtu.be/-w6G7VEwNq0
Space Data Centers Are Dumb.

YouTube