SpaceX Plans to Launch a Million Satellites for AI-Powered Data Centers

Mon Feb 02 2026 16:03:39 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Elon Musk's SpaceX has submitted an application proposing the launch of one million satellites, aiming to establish orbital data centers to support the growing demands of artificial intelligence.

SpaceX has made a bold move applying for permission to deploy up to one million solar-powered satellites into low-Earth orbit. This initiative is proposed as a solution to meet the increasing computational needs of artificial intelligence while claiming to be a more energy-efficient alternative to traditional data centers. However, concerns about space congestion and environmental impacts surface amid this ambitious plan.

Elon Musk's SpaceX has applied to launch one million satellites into Earth's orbit to power artificial intelligence (AI).

The application claims orbital data centers are the most cost and energy-efficient way to meet the growing demand for AI computing power.

Traditionally, such centers are large warehouses filled with powerful computers that process and store data. Musk's aerospace firm argues that the processing needs due to the expanding use of AI exceed terrestrial capabilities.

This plan could drastically increase the number of SpaceX satellites in orbit; their existing Starlink network already includes nearly 10,000 satellites, which have faced accusations of contributing to space congestion—a claim Musk disputes.

The proposed network could consist of up to one million solar-powered satellites, according to the application filed on Friday with the Federal Communications Commission, although no timeline has been specified.

SpaceX stated the system would deliver the computer capacity needed to support billions of users globally. Additionally, they indicated it would represent the first step toward achieving a Kardashev II-level civilization, capable of harnessing the Sun's full power, a concept introduced by an astronomer in the 1960s.

Musk stated on social media that the satellites would be so widely spaced that they would be difficult to see from one to another, emphasizing the vastness of space.

Similar to Starlink satellites, which provide high-speed internet, these new satellites would operate in low-Earth orbit at altitudes ranging from 500 to 2,000 km (310 to 1,242 miles).

SpaceX posits that their orbital data centers could offer a greener alternative to traditional data centers, which require significant power and water for cooling.

Nevertheless, experts warn about the high costs of launching hardware into orbit, alongside challenges related to protecting, cooling, and powering the satellites, particularly as space debris increases the risk of accidents.

Concerns have also been raised about the effect of these satellites on astronomical research, with reports indicating that radio waves from the Starlink network have disrupted telescopes, impeding scientific inquiry.

While Musk has previously rejected claims that his satellites contribute to overcrowding in space, the prospect of adding a million more raises several questions about the sustainability of such large-scale orbital ventures.