Bitcoin Core developer Peter Todd, a Canadian computer scientist, recently wrote a blog post explaining the feasibility of building a Bitcoin mining facility in the vacuum of space.
According to Todd, mining cryptocurrencies in space using current technology is not only possible, but also potentially economically viable if the cost of sending cargo into space can be reduced.
bitcoin in space
The idea of mining cryptocurrencies in space has been heavily debated within the crypto community for years. Proponents often point out that mining operations in space can harness unlimited solar energy and leave no carbon footprint on Earth.
However, opponents warn that the relatively high costs of deploying, constructing and operating off-planet mining facilities could lead to inherent centralization.
On the technical side, both sides seem to agree that even if it were financially possible to launch such a project, there are hurdles that would need to be overcome to conduct operations in space. .
As Todd said in a blog post, “Every time this is discussed, people always say, 'Space isn't cold,' 'It's almost impossible to keep things cold in space,' 'Latencies are too high.' I would like to raise an opposing opinion.
But, according to Todd, “these people are wrong,” have “read too much oversimplified pop science” and “haven't done the physics themselves.”
His post disputes the claim that cooling miners in space is a problem by arguing that the nature of space allows for radiative cooling, or heat dissipation by thermal radiation. He added that the combination of a sun-synchronous orbit and close location would make delays manageable to a negligible degree.
Additionally, Todd backs up his claims with calculations and simplified explanations that help debunk the common belief that it is technically impossible to set up mining stations in space.
According to Todd, “There's nothing that fundamentally precludes the possibility of space mining.” However, he goes on to point out that this technical feasibility does not mean that such a facility will actually be built anytime soon.
“Launch costs need to come down,” Todd said, adding that if they can reach an equity point between launch costs and potential profits, “it might make economic sense.”
Reduced launch costs
In related news, launch costs may be on the verge of hitting rock bottom, thanks to billionaire mogul and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's plans to colonize Mars.
SpaceX's Starship recently broke the record for the largest rocket ever launched with its 33 Raptor engines producing a total of nearly 17 million pounds of thrust. This is nearly twice as much as NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which produces about 8.8 million pounds of thrust. Thrust.
Musk said the company's ultimate goal is to increase Starship's payload capacity while reducing launch costs. If SpaceX is successful, Musk plans to send humans to Mars in dozens of spacecraft.
The same technology, and even the same spacecraft, could be used to cost-effectively establish extraterrestrial cryptocurrency mining facilities.
