The constellation's total processing power will reach 1,000 POPS (1 exaFLOPS), rivaling today's top supercomputers. However, its 100 Gbps laser links and 30 TB per-satellite storage are more limited than ground-based systems' high-speed interconnects and larger capacities.
OK, but why go to all the trouble of 200+ rocket launches to put something in space you could build better on the ground?
Further Info – China launches first of 2,800 satellites for AI space computing constellation.
China has launched the first 12 satellites of a planned 2,800-satellite space-based distributed supercomputer – but do the plans behind it make any sense?
byu/lughnasadh inFuturology
24 Comments
This makes 2nd major technology they stole from Elon Musk
> Jonathan McDowell, a space historian and astronomer at Harvard University, told the outlet, “Orbital data centres can use solar power and radiate their heat to space, reducing the energy needs and carbon footprint.” He said both the US and Europe could carry out similar projects in the future, writes SCMP.
That’s why they’d do it in space instead of on the ground. It’s literally in the article you’re linking.
If it doesn’t make sense, then there’s something either not true or not being disclosed. So it’s either a lie or for a specific purpose that they haven’t mentioned. There’s a huge amount of money being spent for this, so it’s definitely for something important. It’s either spy stuff or misinformation.
As someone with over 15 years working in IT, I can’t possibly see how this could go wrong
“huh. Did you count 205 rocket launches when they only list 200? weird.”
That’s why.
Hrmm i would guess there maybe some problems that require more precise real time computing based on satellite data.
maybe things like remote aircraft/rocket launches? or more precise space navigation? kind of like how some missles do some compute power on board.
From cloud computing to space computing, def going to be used for some form of control. I can’t even foresee what’s possible
They should focus on making an ultra-affordable starlink copycat, and i’ll gladly join the great firewall in order to dump these overpriced tele companies.
This would be safe from nuclear war I guess. Only reason I can think of to build it.
Distributed + in space = harder for enemies to destroy.
If America was doing this we’d all be applauding.
Armchair geopolitics love to astroturf.
“OK, but why go to all the trouble of 200+ rocket launches to put something in space you could build better on the ground?”
You can’t spy as effectively from the ground. Furthermore, those satellites will also link up with their offensive and defensive weapon arrays for AI controlled ICBMs, combat drones, lasers and lots of other perefranilia that’s still classified.
The bottom line is those are not for “gaming and emergency response.”
They’re weapons.
Hopefully these servers are secured assets. It would be a shame if an adversary were to take over these “satellite farms” when you physically can’t reach them. *Deepseek enters chat*
Shit happens. The more orbital real estate we take, the more chances that we have of collisions. than we’ll be locked on this planet forever.
Seems to me it would be a ripe target for some sorta hijack or espionage. Depending on how secure the signal is between satellites someone might be able to maintain a bug indefinitely
If the Earth becomes uninhabitable you need a place to backup your data. /s
Someone’s taking Dyson Sphere Program a bit too literally.
I guess this is how they’re going to interconnect and coordinate the robot army I presume they’ll want to build in the next couple of decades.
Or spying. Could be spying.
The Chinese wouldn’t spend this much money for no good reason, but I doubt we will know what that is anytime soon.
What if it’s up there to prevent an efficient a military strike against it? On the surface these would be put into a few large data centers. (Yes, in theory they could divide it into 2.8k small ones down here as well.)
So it’s going to be a **net** of satellites in the **sky**, forming a super-intelligent computer system with potential self-learning software…
Everybody saying Trump golden dome makes no sense and China making fun of us for it then they drop this lmao
I read about this in William Gibson’s novel back in 1993 when I came across his books.
Scifi now reality. Kinda cool.
Will a sentient AI do its own art that we all can’t understand as we can’t see in higher dimensions?
No. The plans don’t make any sense.
I am ashamed that I was first impressed, for about 5 minutes, with the Idea and thought China could innovate.
They can only copy and steal.