Thread

1. fwlr · 1790297624 · 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 · 1790300604 · 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. NetMageSCW · 1790370405 · focus · HN ↗

         I think the failures of most rocket startups to launch even with billions of dollars and thousands of real engineers shows how unlikely this is.

         And say you do build an orbital class rocket and manage to launch it without anyone noticing before you do - how many of e.g. Starlink’s 11,000 satellites will you be able to damage? What real impact will that have on Starlink?

         1. octoberfranklin · 1790568248 · focus · HN ↗

            They're trying to do something vastly more difficult: get a payload into orbit without damaging it.

            It's much easier to wreck shit than transport it safely.

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