SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has filed an application to launch up to one million satellites into Earth’s orbit, aiming to create a network of orbital data centers to power artificial intelligence.
In documents submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the aerospace company argues that space-based data centers represent the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solution to meet surging AI computing demands. Traditional, ground-based data centers—warehouses filled with powerful, heat-generating computers—are struggling to keep pace with AI’s processing needs, according to the filing. The application does not specify a proposed timeline for the ambitious project.
This plan would vastly expand SpaceX’s presence in orbit, where its existing Starlink network already consists of nearly 10,000 satellites providing internet service. The new satellites would be solar-powered and operate in low-Earth orbit, at altitudes similar to Starlink’s, between 500 and 2,000 kilometers.
SpaceX contends that the orbital data centers would provide the computing capacity required to serve “billions of users globally.” Furthermore, the company frames the project as an initial step toward achieving a “Kardashev II-level civilization”—a theoretical classification for a society capable of harnessing all the energy from its star.
Musk addressed potential concerns about space congestion on his social media platform, X, writing: “The satellites will actually be so far apart that it will be hard to see from one to another. Space is so vast as to be beyond comprehension.” He has previously dismissed claims that Starlink satellites are overcrowding space.
However, the proposal is likely to intensify existing debates about orbital safety and environmental impact. The rapid increase of objects in low-Earth orbit raises concerns about collisions, which could create dangerous debris. Astronomers have also complained that radio emissions from Starlink satellites are interfering with scientific observations, “blinding” telescopes and hindering research.
SpaceX maintains that orbital data centers are a greener alternative to terrestrial facilities, which consume massive amounts of power and water for cooling. The concept of space-based computing is also being explored by other firms seeking to overcome the physical limitations of Earth-bound infrastructure.
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