Economic feasibility of orbital computing: new horizons for SpaceX
The Mach33 study focuses on the satellite architectures needed to achieve 100 GW of computing power at high altitude without multiple Starship launches. The first study in the series focuses on the cost per average watt of energy used in orbit, emphasizing that orbital computing power is no longer a fantasy. According to the analysis, supplies from high orbit can provide energy at a cost of $18-26 per watt, which is twice as much as ground-based alternatives.
Source Mach33
Further research demonstrates that popular designs like Starlink can achieve economic benefits if they are transferred to high orbit, reducing costs to a similar level as on Earth. According to the authors, the use of materials with thin-film technologies and optimization of designs will reduce weight and thus launch costs in the future. SpaceX wants to take computing to the next level by utilizing the virtually unlimited sunlight in orbit.
The evolution of Starlink satellites and modifications for high orbit can provide new opportunities in the energy sector, not only in terms of economics, but also in terms of Elon Musk's growing ambitions for the development of orbital computing and potential lunar exploration. Norms and expectations are shifting this trajectory, paving the way for cost-effective orbital infrastructures.
