Washington: In a move that could redefine the future of computing and space infrastructure, SpaceX has filed a major application with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking approval to launch a vast constellation of up to one million solar-powered satellites designed to function as orbital data centers for artificial intelligence (AI) processing.
The application, submitted on Friday, lays out an ambitious vision: a network of satellites placed in low Earth orbit that would not merely provide communications services like the existing Starlink Internet constellation but also host computing hardware capable of handling AI workloads. SpaceX says these orbital data centers could tap into near-constant solar energy in space, offering a cheaper and cleaner alternative to traditional ground-based data centers that depend on huge amounts of electricity and extensive cooling systems.
In its filing, SpaceX frames the proposal as a transformative step, arguing that by harnessing solar power above the Earth’s atmosphere, it can dramatically cut operational costs and drastically reduce the environmental footprint associated with powering and cooling AI compute infrastructure on the ground.
While the application references a constellation of up to 1 million satellites, analysts note that this number likely represents an upper planning limit to give SpaceX flexibility in design and deployment a common regulatory strategy rather than a firm launch target. In previous FCC filings, SpaceX requested permission for tens of thousands of satellites but has so far deployed only a fraction of that number under earlier authorizations.
Still, the sheer scale of the request signals the company’s intent to dramatically expand beyond current satellite networks. SpaceX currently operates thousands of Starlink satellites that deliver broadband Internet around the world, positioning the company as a leader in commercial space operations.
According to SpaceX, the proposed orbital data center satellites would be equipped with large solar arrays to capture sunlight, which in space is available almost continuously and without the obstructions of weather or night cycles. This would allow the satellites to generate power far more consistently than terrestrial solar installations.
To handle AI workloads, the satellites would link to each other and to Starlink spacecraft through high-speed optical (laser) links, creating a resilient mesh network capable of transmitting massive amounts of data. The existing Starlink constellation would then relay processed information to Earth, where it could be delivered to customers or enterprises that require high-performance AI computing.
SpaceX’s filing envisions satellites operating at various altitudes between roughly 500 km and 2,000 km above Earth, with some placed in sun-synchronous orbits to maximize solar exposure.
Central to the feasibility of this plan is SpaceX’s next-generation Starship rocket, a fully reusable launch vehicle designed for high-volume access to space. SpaceX executives have said that Starship’s heavy-lift capabilities and low launch costs could make even the most ambitious orbital constellations economically viable.
SpaceX has conducted multiple test flights of Starship, and the company expects the rocket to begin carrying operational payloads into orbit this year. Once fully operational, Starship could deliver significant payloads to orbit at a fraction of the cost of traditional rockets a critical factor for building out a constellation at the scale described in the FCC filing.
The FCC filing comes as SpaceX is reportedly in merger discussions with Elon Musk’s AI company xAI ahead of a potential initial public offering later this year. If completed, such a merger could combine space and AI capabilities under a single corporate umbrella, reinforcing SpaceX’s competitive position against major tech players that are also investing heavily in AI infrastructure.
This orbital data center concept puts SpaceX in direct competition with other global initiatives. For example, China’s state aerospace contractor has unveiled plans to develop gigawatt-class space-based AI data centers over the next five years as part of its technology development roadmap highlighting the intensifying international race to dominate future space computing markets.
Despite its ambition, SpaceX’s orbital AI data center proposal faces technical and regulatory hurdles. Beyond the obvious engineering complexities of launching and maintaining a large constellation of compute-capable satellites, the project must also address concerns about space debris, radiation shielding for electronics, and coordination with other orbital systems.
Experts suggest that small-scale tests could begin in the late 2020s, with broader commercial deployment potentially occurring in the 2030s as technology matures and launch costs continue to fall.
For now, SpaceX’s filing with the FCC marks a significant milestone in the convergence of space exploration and artificial intelligence infrastructure, highlighting how orbital technologies might play a pivotal role in powering the next generation of computing.