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Google’s Project Suncatcher to put ML infrastructure in space

233 points · 553 comments · xnx

  1. fwlr · · focus · HN ↗
    Yes, the physics are worse, and yes, the economics are worse, but data centers in space have the crucial advantage that they are out of range of the molotov-throwing arm of Joe Public (recently unemployed).
    1. octoberfranklin · · focus · HN ↗
      I dunno, considering how various insurgent groups manage to make some reasonably impressive rocketry, I have to believe that in a few years with AI assistance (abliterate all the things) knocking a LEO satellite out of orbit won't be that much harder than sabotaging an electrical substation.

      We're talking about an exceptionally vulnerable target with a perfectly predictable path of travel here. And it's constantly emitting lots of RF making it easy to track. You just have to get near it and explode with shrapnel.

      Totally illegal, of course. But it will be within the reach of millions of people if they want to do it.

      I don't think "just move to space bro" is going to stop the pitchfork-mob.

      1. red75prime · · focus · HN ↗
        Polluting LEO with debris is not the way to solve the problem of goods distribution. But, sure, there will be morons who consider it.
        1. airhangerf15 · · focus · HN ↗
          People who could do it successfully would hardy be considered morons. That would be a genius engineer.

          The general attitude in this thread against reasonable people not wanting unsustainable megaliths that produce horrible amounts of noise, and are driving up electricity prices, in their communities without any input from said community is astonishing.

          HN has really gone full AI derangement syndrome (it runs both directions).

          1. red75prime · · focus · HN ↗
            The majority will not do it successfully. Rocket science is notoriously hard. Hopefully, there will be no incentives to go to such lengths.

            Sending unguided rockets in the general direction of the enemy with 25% failure rate doesn't scale well to a 3-stage precision guided delivery vehicle.

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