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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. rzerowan · · focus · HN ↗
      Similarly to Starlink , which was hyped as a low codt alternative for marginalised people/areas and sucked in enormous subsidies to that end. While being more or less a proof of concept for a military command and control network , thats the same way this should be looked at.Especially with data centers being vulnerable on ground, coupled with the ability to reposition the space based units to be 'closer to the action' as it were.

      So bottom line a proof of concept for DARPA funds and eventual inegration into the military command and control nodes.

      1. sebzim4500 · · focus · HN ↗
        Did Starlink really receive enormous subsidies? IIRC it was kicked out of the federal program in the US due to lobbying from others.
        1. ethbr1 · · focus · HN ↗
          Starlink was granted $880m from the FCC, but later defaulted on conditions, so didn't get most of the money.

          Starshield, on the other hand, has been directly funded by the US government to the tune of ~$9b in reported funding (much of it NRO or Space Force classified). It has ~250 satellites up as of now.

          1. sebzim4500 · · focus · HN ↗
            But presumably they have delivered (or will deliver) the services requested. It's not a subsidy if it's just a government agency buying something.
            1. ceejayoz · · focus · HN ↗
              <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Subsidy" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Subsidy

              &gt; A subsidy, subvention or government incentive is a type of government expenditure which redistributes from tax payers to individuals, households, or businesses. Subsidies take various forms, such as direct government expenditures, tax incentives, soft loans, price support, and government provision of goods and services.

              SpaceX benefited from the italicized items in this definition.

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