[abenga]

Why not use the unlimited free energy on terrestrial data centers then? You can use solar power as we speak, no?

[aunty_helen]

Because the sun hides at night. Scientists have yet to figure out where he goes. Until that happens it’s not a great power source.

[abenga]

Overprovision solar and add batteries for the night, then. Whatever amount of money and effort is required to make space data centers feasible (launching, cooling, etc) cannot possibly be lower than just building solar powered terrestrial data centers + batteries or alternative power sources. It is just not as sexy a story to sell to investors as magic space computers.

[direwolf20]

What do the satellites do in earth's shadow?