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 don’t think we should make a deal with a nazi that seems to hate humanity. Nope. Too much power.
Only when they solve the impending Kessler Syndrome.
When did the FCC become the final authority on “Space?” Doesn’t anyone else on the planet Earth get a say?
Crazy we do this while children still starve and go without education.
Absolutely, especially when other capitalist countries are doing universal health care and college.
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.
When I said take me to the moon I never meant take me alone
I thought if mankind toured the sky it meant that all of us could go
But I don’t want to see the stars if they’re just one more piece of land
For us to colonize, for us to turn to sand
- Penelope Scott, Rät
My thoughts are, it doesn’t matter what my thoughts are because the FCC’s approval can be purchased for a few million dollars directly from the administration.
If nothing else, go on record for posterity.
I know enough to know that this is not a topic where my opinion means much.
I think that it is a topic for experts to discuss and research and this discussion and research isn’t being done.
Doesn’t matter what I think, this will not happen, period
Remember: this is a musk project, and musk projects always end up with massive investments, mega promises for years that it definitely definitely this time will be done next year and absolutely zero results
The few times that there are results, it’s the fucking hilarious cyber truck
There will be no datacenters in space and anyone who at this point gives their money freely to Elmo deserve what they will get: absofuckinglutely nothing
The registration and comment system is, unfortunately, a little cumbersome to use, but I encourage you all to take a few minutes today and submit a public comment if you can. Maybe mention Musk’s many failures and broken promises, and how you don’t want him to be able to integrate his companies further into our governing infrastructure.
I bet the FCC will look the other way as the public comments are gamed by influence operations Musk et al hire to pump their projects. Not the first time when they ended net neutrality the FCC knowingly pretended not to see fake comments from influence operations.
It’s like that with everything now, tech doesn’t even pretend, app scores are openly gamed, all with perfect ratings. Product ratings the same, my podcast pops up for me to rate, my options, give a top rating or wait until later. It’s all open corruption at this point and no one cares.
Fuck no.
