Re:Silicon Valley faces a crisis of nonsense
by palata on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @08:19AM
(#37306620)
> We have some, yes. More are in development, and launching all the time.
But do we need them? We know what we need to do for climate change. The thing is that if we can send more satellites, we will. That's the rebound effect.
> you'd perhaps do better by choosing a company that's not the only one to re-use their rockets.
Well, Saturn V was not reusable, but they could not afford sending thousands of them. The very fact that SpaceX can re-use their rockets allows for a huge rebound effect, making many SpaceX launches much worse than a few one-off launches.
Same goes for 5G: if you use it exactly the same way, it's more efficient than 4G. But we can use it more, so we do. So 5G emits more than 4G globally.
We need to count with rebound effects: do not build new technology that you don't depend on today, because you will depend on it later and it will emit more.
But do we need them? We know what we need to do for climate change. The thing is that if we can send more satellites, we will. That's the rebound effect.
> you'd perhaps do better by choosing a company that's not the only one to re-use their rockets.
Well, Saturn V was not reusable, but they could not afford sending thousands of them. The very fact that SpaceX can re-use their rockets allows for a huge rebound effect, making many SpaceX launches much worse than a few one-off launches.
Same goes for 5G: if you use it exactly the same way, it's more efficient than 4G. But we can use it more, so we do. So 5G emits more than 4G globally.
We need to count with rebound effects: do not build new technology that you don't depend on today, because you will depend on it later and it will emit more.