00:00The entire idea of orbital data centers hinges on a single variable, the cost per kilogram to orbit.
00:08StarCard itself says that their business model becomes economically viable at around $500 per kilogram.
00:15That's not a science fiction figure, that's a concrete target.
00:18And it's orders of magnitude closer than anything space-based solar power would have ever needed.
00:25But the decisive point isn't just the price, it's the capacity.
00:30SpaceX is currently building a system that isn't designed for today's demand,
00:36but rather for a future where millions of tons are meant to fly towards Mars.
00:42This capacity won't be fully utilized for years, and unused launch capacity is dead capital.
00:49What do you do with rockets that are just sitting there, not flying to Mars right now?
00:53That's right, you sell them.
