The Federal Communications Commission seems eager to let SpaceX experiment with massive data centers in space. On Wednesday, Chairman Brendan Carr tweeted, “The FCC welcomes and now seeks comment on the SpaceX application for Orbital Data Centers.”
SpaceX’s application to launch up to one million satellites has been accepted by the agency, kicking off a public comment period. The announcement is surprising because the company only submitted its proposal on Friday. Usually, the FCC takes weeks or months to respond. In this case, it made a decision in days, even though SpaceX’s proposal appears preliminary and even rushed, according to space experts, some of whom question the constellation’s feasibility.
For perspective, only 14,500 satellites are currently in orbit. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk now wants to dramatically increase that number by about 70 times, raising questions about the environmental toll from the required rocket launches and the potential for space debris.
I never thought I’d see the phrase “orbital data centers” and not think it’s cool, but here we are.
I was so into science fiction growing up. The science fact is quite depressing.
This is more fiction than science. Elon has all the ideas a 12yr would think are cool.
You nailed it too, this is to keep the technological worshippers at his feet, to pump his companies despite their valutations being higher than their stocks could ever justify.
This is the biggest, most successful confidence game in the world. He is playing everyone, just like he did with the robots in every house, in self driving cars, in AI taking all the jobs, etc.
They are not anywhere near making this a reality, and the society they’ve created will fall apart to negate this before it’s complete if someone doesn’t stop them elsewhere.
Although if all the data servers were in low orbit, it would make it a lot easier to destroy them all when we get a sensible government that convicts these people of corruptly seizing all data without true consent or cause and using it for nefarious purposes. A little target practice for new laser type weapons.
- Penelope Scott, Rät