Self-assembling data centers in space are becoming reality as Rendezvous Robotics partners with Starcloud
His online calculator is extremely detailed, letting one configure 15 parameter sliders to try and get a feel for how good (or bad) the idea is. Said parameters range from adjusting the launch cost to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), satellite size, GPU failure rates, as well as comparable earthbound figures.
It should be noted that McCalip's math only accounts for the bare logistical differences of a launch versus a standard build, with a lot of assumptions about engineering challenges, and he remarks as much. McCalip goes as far as calling the notion "FOMO and aesthetic futurism", and that "people are using back-of-the-envelope math, doing a terrible job of it, and only confirming whatever conclusion they already want."
That's a shot across the bow at the (literal) pie-in-the-sky ideas of using LEO satellites to host datacenters. It's also easy to understand the frustration of those who wish that datacenter buildouts would move faster. For terrestrial data centers, tons of time is spent navigating legal and literal ground, worrying about water supplies, ecological and carbon output concerns, and so on and so forth.
Solar power is always available, so its effective price can approach near zero, helping with lowering the operational cost. There's no regulation regarding land (or barely any regulation at all), and no need to worry about passing transmission lines either. Cooling looks easy on the surface level, with space radiators being extremely efficient. Plus, with the advancements coming from SpaceX et al are reportedly hovering around $1000 per kg to launch into LEO.
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/big-tech/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/big-tech/new-calculator-helps-evaluate-the-economics-of-datacenters-in-space-running-the-numbers-on-orbital-computing-reveals-a-brutal-reality#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
- HDD prices spike as AI infrastructure and China's PC push collide — hard drives record biggest price increase in eight quarters, suppliers warn pressure will co
- NVIDIA Awards up to $60,000 Research Fellowships to PhD Students
- These 16 gadgets under $100 are must-haves for hobbyists and PC builders — these last-minute tech gifts are our personal picks for the tech savvy on your gift l
- The Ultimate Black Friday Deal Is Here
- New calculator helps evaluate the economics of datacenters in space — running the numbers on orbital computing reveals a brutal reality
Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.