Because electronics on the ground didn’t have a big enough environmental footprint, let’s emit co2 and pollutants to have some more in space? All just because checks notes no real useful reason?
It eliminates the need for a lot of back and forth communication if you need to calculate stuff in space. Maybe scanning satelite images for example. And it shaves off valuable seconds if you - say - want to launch something from orbit to Earth. Most air defense mechanisms are not all that effective against stuff that comes straight down at a high speed and the idea of orbital weapons has been circulating for a while now (if not realised without public knowledge).
Because electronics on the ground didn’t have a big enough environmental footprint, let’s emit co2 and pollutants to have some more in space? All just because checks notes no real useful reason?
It eliminates the need for a lot of back and forth communication if you need to calculate stuff in space. Maybe scanning satelite images for example. And it shaves off valuable seconds if you - say - want to launch something from orbit to Earth. Most air defense mechanisms are not all that effective against stuff that comes straight down at a high speed and the idea of orbital weapons has been circulating for a while now (if not realised without public knowledge).