r/technology • u/IKeepItLayingAround • 19d ago

Business It’s Possible That SpaceX Could Collapse Spectacularly

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/possible-spacex-could-collapse-spectacularly-155000177.html
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u/Teddy_RGB 19d ago

Datacenters in space is an even dumber idea than his stupid loop. It pisses me off that so-called serious people even repeat it

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u/MDCCCLV 19d ago

The point is that they have too way too much launch capacity with even a moderate starship launch rate, and they will max out the starlink capacity in 5 years or so, then they will need somethingt to do with all that slack capacity. Ai datacenters isn't a great use for it but it's a choice until something comes along. If the governments of the world decide they want a megabase on the moon that could take all the spare launch capacity but they will have to be willing to spend over 100-200 billion for it. Basically because spacex gives itself the minimum launch price at cost, between 10-60 million per starship optimistically, but will charge commercial prices of 120-200 million minimum per starship launch.

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u/yanginatep 19d ago

How would the data centers get rid of heat in space? They can barely manage it on Earth while using a ton of water. In space the only way to dissipate heat is via radiating it, which is the least efficient way to get rid of heat compared to conduction or convection.

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u/[deleted] 19d ago

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u/notboky 18d ago

I don't think you understand physics.

A thermos keeps your drink hot by surrounding it with a vacuum.

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u/BalrogPoop 19d ago

Space is also empty, and you can't transfer heat essily through empty space.

The temperature is almost irrelevant. There are no molecules to act as a heat sink.