Comment by nandomrumber

6 months ago

Low Earth orbits are in the dark about 49% of time, but suffer no seasonal variability. Low Earth orbit is also very hot, and regular solar panels become less efficient the hotter they get.

The only sensible way to count pollution from solar+battery power manufacturing & disposal is do it on a per kWh basis.

The size of solar panels and radiators needed for an actual data center would be crazy in LEO. LEO still touches the atmosphere. ISS needs to be pushed higher regularly because of atmospheric drag.