Thread

Google’s Project Suncatcher to put ML infrastructure in space

233 points · 553 comments · xnx

kin · 1790291957 · focus · HN ↗
For those questioning viability, there's a startup called Starcloud <a href="https://www.starcloud.com/">https://www.starcloud.com/ with a public whitepaper explaining a bit their hardware and economics <a href="https://www.starcloud.com/wp">https://www.starcloud.com/wp. They've already had one small proof of concept launched. Not trying to promote, I just heard about them on the ycomb podcast
1. stingrae · 1790292853 · focus · HN ↗
  “A 5 GW data center would require a solar array with dimensions of approximately 4 km by 4 km”
  I think dodging debris is challenging at that scale.
  Also this is the solar cells not the radiators
  1. flog · 1790298979 · focus · HN ↗
    I wonder if the shadows from such a large area would have a climate cooling effect?
    lend000 · 1790307104 · focus · HN ↗
    Would be cool if so, but I wonder what the plan is regarding radiation pressure pushing things out of orbit.
    busssard · 1790331485 · focus · HN ↗
    would radiation pressure not counterbalance the radiation pressure from the sun?
    given solar cells are only 30% efficient. if you put the radiators behind the panels then you have the structure already and always keep the radiators shaded

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