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Google’s Project Suncatcher to put ML infrastructure in space

233 points · 553 comments · xnx

  1. ilamont · · focus · HN ↗
    I didn't have time to watch the videos, but in the text I didn't see anything that addresses data center operations requiring manual intervention.

    Swapping out obsolete or failing TPUs. Rewiring or replacing connections. "Listening" for sounds indicating an equipment failure.

    What are the proposals to address these needs?

    1. unethical_ban · · focus · HN ↗
      It's odd to see this level of skepticism, honestly. Does one think the engineers at Google aren't thinking about these problems?

      This is obviously a test, just like hundreds or thousands of tests in space before it. Can we run Earth-rated components at any scale in space? How will it fail in various ways, at what rate, and are the causes able to be mitigated?

      "We" talk about moonbases and Mars colonies. Part of any extended presence in space will involve the presence of computational devices. They're figuring out how to make that work with modern hardware. That's my take, anyway.

      1. [deleted] · · focus · HN ↗

        [deleted]

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