this post was submitted on 19 May 2026
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That article was incorrect, then. There are many satellites already in orbit that have computers in them - basically all of them do, nowadays - and cooling them is a well understood engineering problem.
The satellite computers don't perform as much work, produce as much heat, or are as densely placed as those in the data centers.
So don't pack them as densely as Earth-based data centers are packed.
In another comment in this thread I posted a link to a youtube video by Scott Manley explaining the math and engineering behind cooling computer hardware in space, it's actually pretty straightforward.
Which means they're not as useful, way more expensive, existing ones can't be serviced or upgraded and they won't be able to keep up with induced demand. I.e. they're not practical. Just because something is theoretically doable doesn't mean it will actually work for what want it to do.
Also cooling chips in space is something we had to solve in order to explore and have satellites whereas the lack of AI data centers in an invented problem. There's no actual need or demand for them.
Also there's not enough money (actually money, not imaginary money that our financialized economy makes) to pay for it even it where practical to do. They're not even able to afford the normal ones lol. Orbit based data centers ain't happening.
It's another Musk grift. It's a scam.
Musk is not the only person planning these sorts of satellites.
How was it incorrect? How can you transfer heat away from the electronics into another medium when there is no other medium because it's in space?
By that logic, every existing satellite would overheat and die.
The processing on satellites is absolutely nothing compared to a datacenter.
That would be a matter of scale. You're claiming it's flat out impossible because of a lack of medium. Different thing entirely
Same way radiation heat works from the sun.
The sun emites a fuck ton of mass. Satellites don't have mass to emit.
So how does radiation heat work in other places?
Like this? This has no mass either really.
https://images.homedepot.ca/productimages/p_1001318862.jpg?product-images=l