"Using satellites could also minimise the impact on the land and water resources needed to cool existing datacentres. Once in orbit, the datacentres would be powered by solar panels that can be up to eight times more productive than those on Earth. However, launching a single rocket into space emits hundreds of tonnes of CO2. Objections could be raised by astronomers concerned that rising numbers of satellites in low orbit are like bugs on a windshield when they are trying to peer into the universe."
"However, launching a single rocket into space emits hundreds of tonnes of CO2. Objections could be raised by astronomers concerned that rising numbers of satellites in low orbit are like bugs on a windshield when they are trying to peer into the universe. The orbiting datacentres envisaged under Project Suncatcher would beam their results back through optical links, which typically use light or laser beams to transmit information."
Google plans trial equipment in early 2027 to test placing AI datacentres in low Earth orbit. The concept envisions compact constellations of roughly 80 solar-powered satellites about 400 miles above Earth carrying Google TPUs connected by free-space optical links. Solar panels in orbit can be up to eight times more productive than terrestrial panels, reducing land and water demands currently required to cool datacentres. Falling launch prices could make space-based datacentre running costs comparable to Earth-based sites by the mid-2030s, although single rocket launches emit hundreds of tonnes of CO2 and astronomers may object to increased orbital clutter.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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