New Weekly Space and Hypersonics Engineering Newsletter (buttondown.com)

This week saw significant advancements in space technology and hypersonics. A five-month-old startup, Orbital, is requesting FCC permission to deploy up to 100,000 satellites to create orbital data centers capable of delivering 10 gigawatts of computing power. This ambitious plan could revolutionize the infrastructure for satellite networks and global computing, meeting the surging demand from AI applications. As the push for space-based computing intensifies, the implications for AI/ML workloads could be profound, facilitating faster data processing and analysis through distributed computing resources in orbit. Additionally, the launch of Amazon's LEO satellites marks the final ascent of the Atlas V rocket, shifting focus to new launch vehicles. This transition is significant for national security and commercial space access. In the realm of defense, Ursa Major's development of 3D-printed solid rocket motors for hypersonic engines highlights the potential for transformative manufacturing methods in military applications, offering rapid and cost-effective production capabilities. This shift could lead to quicker developments in hypersonic weapons technology, raising both competitive and strategic implications within global defense landscapes.