zlacker

[parent] [thread] 6 comments
1. bdamm+(OP)[view] [source] 2026-02-02 23:01:38
Not so. Look at the construction of JWST. One side is "hot", the other side is very, very cold.

I am highly skeptical about data centers in space, but radiators don't need to be unshaded. In fact, they benefit from the shade. This is also being done on the ISS.

replies(3): >>RIMR+R2 >>tempes+Ac >>lm2846+Wi
2. RIMR+R2[view] [source] 2026-02-02 23:14:10
>>bdamm+(OP)
Look at how many layers of insulation are needed for the JWST to have a hot and cold side! Again, this is not particularly simple stuff.

The JWST operates at 2kw max. That's not enough for a single H200.

AI datacenters in space are a non-starter. Anyone arguing otherwise doesn't understand basic thermodynamics.

replies(1): >>Doctor+ct
3. tempes+Ac[view] [source] 2026-02-02 23:59:07
>>bdamm+(OP)
That's fair. I meant they would need a clear path to open space not blocked by solar panels, but yes, a hot and cold side makes sense.

The whole concept is still insane though, fwiw.

replies(1): >>Doctor+5i
◧◩
4. Doctor+5i[view] [source] [discussion] 2026-02-03 00:31:29
>>tempes+Ac
"I meant they would need a clear path to open space not blocked by solar panels, but yes, a hot and cold side makes sense."

This is precisely why my didactic example above uses a convex shape, a pyramid. This guarantees each surface absorbs or radiates energy without having to take into account self-obscuring by satellite shape.

5. lm2846+Wi[view] [source] 2026-02-03 00:37:06
>>bdamm+(OP)
> Look at the construction of JWST.

A very high end desktop pulls more electricity than the whole JWST... Which is about the same as a hair dryer.

Now you need about 50x more for a rack and hundreds/thousands racks for a meaningful cluster. Shaded or not it's a shit load of radiators

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/microsoft-azure-deliv...

replies(1): >>Doctor+w91
◧◩
6. Doctor+ct[view] [source] [discussion] 2026-02-03 01:45:43
>>RIMR+R2
The goal of JWST is not to consume as much power as possible, and perform useful computations with it. A system not optimized for metric B but for metric A scores bad for metric B... great observation.
◧◩
7. Doctor+w91[view] [source] [discussion] 2026-02-03 07:47:23
>>lm2846+Wi
addressed at >>46867402
[go to top]