Re: [Starlink] lumen orbit

["Brandon Butterworth" <brandon-ml@bogons.net>]

On 04/09/2024 15:48:51, "Dave Taht via Starlink" 
<starlink@lists.bufferbloat.net> wrote:
>They plan to build a 5GW 4k solar square for data centers in orbit,
>launched on starship:
>
>https://www.lumenorbit.com/

Maintenance call outs are going to be interesting

>How are they going to cool this thing?

With some big radiators. From
https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/473486main_iss_atcs_overview.pdf

it seems that the ISS units take about 23 * 3.5m area for 35kW so
about 440 W/m^2, if they are about the same then 5GW will need
around 11 million sq metres.

That seems a totally unfeasible number so either I messed up the
calculation, or they have way more efficient radiators than NASA,
or this is wishful thinking/investor grift.

Compare it to the solar panels needed to collect that much power,
current ISS panels are 190W/m^2 @ 14% efficiency, assuming they can
get to earth efficiency of around 20% they might get 270W/m^2 so
they are going to need more space. At lease one could be on the
reverse of the other.

Anyone got better numbers?

brandon