SpaceX Plans to Establish Data Center with 1 Million Satellites in Orbit
SpaceX has formalized its plan to establish a one-million-satellite data center system in orbit for artificial intelligence and edge computing in its application to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
Massive Data Center Project in Space
SpaceX plans to establish a massive satellite constellation in orbit to support artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning workloads. According to documents the company submitted to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the project, named the 'Orbital Data Center System,' envisions launching up to one million satellites.
Solar Power and AI Alliance
According to the plan detailed in the FCC application, these satellites will be positioned in sun-synchronous orbits at altitudes between 500 and 2,000 kilometers. The system's primary goal is to provide the necessary computing capacity for AI inference and data center applications by directly harnessing solar energy without the obstructive effect of Earth's atmosphere. SpaceX claims this method will be significantly more cost-effective compared to ground-based data centers.
Kardashev Scale Ambition and Scientific Concerns
In its application, the company described this project as a step towards achieving a 'Kardashev Type II' civilization level, capable of harnessing the total energy output of a star. However, the idea of placing one million satellites into orbit is raising serious concerns within the scientific community regarding space debris and potential collision risks. Experts warn that the increasing number of satellites could exponentially raise the risk of 'Kessler Syndrome,' a scenario where a cascade of collisions renders an orbit unusable.
While SpaceX's existing fleet of approximately 9,000 operational Starlink satellites already fuels these concerns, the planned massive scale introduces new questions about space traffic management and orbital congestion. In a related development, SpaceX's satellite application for AI had been previously reported.
Next Steps and Debates
The project is currently on record as a plan awaiting FCC approval. Space industry observers are debating the technical, financial, and regulatory challenges of such a large-scale infrastructure. SpaceX's ability to achieve this ambitious goal will depend not only on its technological and logistical capacity but also on the solutions it brings to international space law and security concerns.
