Imagine if instead of stupid shit like this we y’know built solar panels here on earth and installed them on top of, all around, and nearby our data centers. And you could even overbuild it a little bit to support the local community.
aquarain on
Datacenters in space are a solution in search of a problem. And the problem is how do you turn a profit on a factory and launch facilities for reusable rockets that can replace the entire outside world demand for spaceflight in one rocket.
jlluh on
I saw one argument for space solar that made me pause and say “maybe.” Funnily enough, it was from the conclusion of a piece arguing it was impractical.
It was something to the effect of “what’s easier, putting thousands of massive structures in space, or changing American land use laws?”
It might be the massive space structures.
But I think with the right financing, it’s easier still to put solar on roofs and over parking lots, and that’s enough to supply most of our energy needs.
I wrote up a proposal. Basic idea is to derisk solar for landlords by requiring tenants to purchase their power before the utilities’ (at a discount compared to the utility.)
The thing the rich fuckers and politicians never say when talking about space solar is the possibility of using it for evil. Beaming back the energy is the issue. It is usually talked about as beaming back microwave radiation to a receiver on the earth and viola power. The thing they don’t mention is that very energy beam can be shaped and altered to be a high powered space beam weapon. Capable of incinerating most anything on the ground.
4 Comments
Imagine if instead of stupid shit like this we y’know built solar panels here on earth and installed them on top of, all around, and nearby our data centers. And you could even overbuild it a little bit to support the local community.
Datacenters in space are a solution in search of a problem. And the problem is how do you turn a profit on a factory and launch facilities for reusable rockets that can replace the entire outside world demand for spaceflight in one rocket.
I saw one argument for space solar that made me pause and say “maybe.” Funnily enough, it was from the conclusion of a piece arguing it was impractical.
It was something to the effect of “what’s easier, putting thousands of massive structures in space, or changing American land use laws?”
It might be the massive space structures.
But I think with the right financing, it’s easier still to put solar on roofs and over parking lots, and that’s enough to supply most of our energy needs.
I wrote up a proposal. Basic idea is to derisk solar for landlords by requiring tenants to purchase their power before the utilities’ (at a discount compared to the utility.)
https://medium.com/@jonlakewrites/why-your-landlord-should-be-your-power-plant-e083476a6344
The thing the rich fuckers and politicians never say when talking about space solar is the possibility of using it for evil. Beaming back the energy is the issue. It is usually talked about as beaming back microwave radiation to a receiver on the earth and viola power. The thing they don’t mention is that very energy beam can be shaped and altered to be a high powered space beam weapon. Capable of incinerating most anything on the ground.