Ars TechnicaMar 20
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
Show threadFediThing 

@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.

Mar 20 at 2:54pmWeb
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.