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 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 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 Cowboy
@FediThing
Theoretically the things are possible, but there are a lot of things that make them impractical. Lift costs being one of them.
@arstechnica
Mar 20 at 8:53pmWeb
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.