[ExI] Power satellites are being developed now

[BillK]

On Fri, 19 Dec 2025 at 20:34, John Clark <johnkclark at gmail.com> wrote:

> *Over long distances it's much easier to transmit data than power, so if
> space-based power transmission to earth is economically viable (is it?)
> then it would make even more sense to have power satellites use their
> energy to run data centers that are also in space. After all, these days
> running data centers is the economic sector where energy usage is growing
> the fastest, so why not build them where energy is the cheapest? *
>
> *John K Clark*
>
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>


The new AI data centres are very expensive to build.  My immediate thought
was that building them in space would be a horrendous cost. Then there are
maintenance costs as well.
Gemini agreed.

"Currently, building in space is *massively more expensive*—likely 5 to 10
times the cost of a terrestrial build when factoring in radiation-hardened
hardware and launch fees. It will only become a viable alternative to
Earth-bound centers if fully reusable rockets make "trucking" to orbit as
cheap as sea freight."

Full discussion here:  <https://gemini.google.com/share/57d906589f5b>

BillK
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