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Yeah that's was what I suspected. Outside of space-based infrastructure or at massive crush-depths in the ocean the "naturally" cool places wouldn't really make a dent in the required temperatures.

I don't wonder then if, when the cost of build goes down and speed of transmission goes up, space based infra for these things will be a big industry.



If anything it’s a lot harder to cool things in space because you are limited to radiating it.

The ISS has massive radiators almost as large as the station itself at 1800 square ft of radiator panels.


That makes sense. I don't know why I just assumed the vacuum of space would provide a perfect and passive cooling environment, but of course that's not the case.


There are a lot of examples in movies and the zeitgeist, even where other harder Sci fi Is obeyed, so it's hardly surprising if you'd never stopped to think about it. Welcome to the 10,000.


Qua intuition: Think vacuum flask aka thermos flask. (though these also try to reduce radiative cooling with a mirror-finish)

Convective cooling is a very efficient form of cooling, but obviously doesn't exist in a vacuum. Typically people resort to radiative cooling in space. This requires larger radiators.




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