Thread

1. kin · 1790291957 · focus · HN ↗

   For those questioning viability, there&#x27;s a startup called Starcloud <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.starcloud.com&#x2F;">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.starcloud.com&#x2F; with a public whitepaper explaining a bit their hardware and economics <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.starcloud.com&#x2F;wp">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.starcloud.com&#x2F;wp. They&#x27;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. hdgvhicv · 1790316236 · focus · HN ↗

         Desert land is full of that amount of area available for peanuts.

         That’s 4000 acres. I see a 6000 acre ranch available in Arizona for $7m. The cost of building a 5GW DC is about 100 billion. Land including enough for all the solar and battery you need to be completely self sufficient is basically free.

         1. King-Aaron · 1790316542 · focus · HN ↗

            You can fly a drone laden with fireworks across a desert. Harder to do in LEO

            1. igleria · 1790335862 · focus · HN ↗

               cheaper to defend on earth than launch and maintain in space.

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.