this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2026
-38 points (13.5% liked)

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-38
New orbital power grid targets 10x boost for space-based computing and data centers (interestingengineering.com)
submitted 3 days ago by Delta_V@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
6 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

...Under a power purchase agreement, Aethero will draw electricity on demand from Star Catcher’s planned orbital energy grid. The arrangement is designed to let spacecraft access additional power when computing loads rise, without having to carry enough onboard generation and storage to cover those peaks...

...The company says it can harvest solar energy and beam concentrated power directly onto existing satellite solar panels, allowing spacecraft to generate up to 10 times more power on demand without installing specialized receivers...

...The company is preparing for its first in-space power-beaming demonstration later this year, with another mission already in development...

top 6 comments
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[–] markz@suppo.fi 17 points 3 days ago

"Space based computing" is a fucking stupid idea.

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 12 points 3 days ago

More evidence that the Lords of Finance are, in fact, complete morons.

[–] unpossum@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago (2 children)

So vaporware to support other vaporware? Metavapor? Plasmaware?

[–] exu@feditown.com 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Ironic, solar panels are the only energy generation method that doesn't use vapour to spin a thing.*

*yes, wind turbines, but they spin thing directly

[–] DeadDigger@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 days ago

I mean windturbines also spin with a bit of water vapor

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 days ago

Supercritical? Wait, will it explode instead of imploding? WW3?