Learn about Google's Project Suncatcher to put ML infrastructure in space

Re:Learn about Google's Project Suncatcher to put ML infrast... by Ajedi32 on Friday September 25, 2026 @09:25AM (#49844316)

Sun-synchronous orbit gets sunlight ~100% of the time.

From TFA:

> In low Earth orbit, satellites can access near-constant sunlight, generating up to eight times more solar power than on Earth.

That's obviously a reference to sun-synchronous orbit. You don't get 8 times more solar power in a low inclination orbit.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Learn about Google's Project Suncatcher to put ML infrast... by ctde on Friday September 25, 2026 @10:13AM (#49844981)

i already countered that argument, but to spell it out: sun synchronous orbits which see the sun all the time are a 1d manifold (approximately) and quite busy already, so they won't come to the rescue.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Learn about Google's Project Suncatcher to put ML infrast... by Ajedi32 on Friday September 25, 2026 @01:19PM (#49847354)

My point is that SSO isn't "coming to the rescue", it's literally the entire premise of the idea (greater availability of solar power there vs anywhere on earth). I don't buy "there's no more room" as an argument when we're talking about space, even in a relatively crowded set of orbits like SSO.

[ Parent | on HN ]