SpaceX wants to put 1 million solar-powered data centers into orbit
In a move that sounds like it was ripped straight from the pages of a science fiction epic, SpaceX has officially filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch a constellation of one million data center satellites into low Earth orbit. The audacious proposal, submitted on Friday, outlines plans for a solar-powered, laser-linked network of orbital computing hubs that could revolutionize how artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure operate.
The filing, obtained through the FCC’s application system, describes the project in grandiose terms that border on the cosmic. SpaceX refers to the constellation as a “first step towards becoming a Kardashev II-level civilization — one that can harness the Sun’s full power.” For the uninitiated, a Kardashev Type II civilization is one capable of capturing and utilizing the total energy output of its star — a concept that places this proposal squarely in the realm of futurism and speculative engineering.
But while the vision is bold, the practical implications are staggering. If even a small fraction of these satellites make it to orbit, the number of man-made objects circling Earth would increase dramatically. Currently, the European Space Agency estimates there are around 15,000 satellites in orbit, with the majority belonging to SpaceX’s own Starlink network. According to Jonathan’s Space Report, over 9,600 Starlink satellites are already active, making SpaceX the dominant player in low Earth orbit.
This raises serious questions about space traffic management and the growing problem of orbital debris. With experts already sounding alarms over the proliferation of space junk and the risk of orbital collisions, the idea of adding hundreds of thousands — or even millions — of new objects to the mix seems fraught with peril. However, SpaceX argues that these orbital data centers would be a cleaner, more efficient alternative to traditional land-based facilities, which are increasingly under fire for their environmental and social impacts.
The backlash against data centers has been intensifying in recent years. Communities across the globe have raised concerns about the massive amounts of water they consume, the pollution they generate, and the strain they place on local power grids. In some cases, residents have successfully blocked the construction of new facilities altogether. For tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, the search for alternative solutions has become urgent.
SpaceX’s orbital data centers could offer a way out of this bind. By leveraging the vacuum of space for heat dissipation and relying on real-time solar power, these satellites would theoretically eliminate many of the environmental downsides associated with terrestrial data centers. They wouldn’t need to siphon water from local communities, pollute groundwater, or drive up electricity bills. Instead, they’d operate in the cold, dark expanse of space, powered by the Sun and cooled by the void.
Of course, the feasibility of such a project remains highly questionable. The FCC is unlikely to approve a constellation of this scale, and even if it did, the technical challenges would be immense. Building and maintaining a network of one million satellites would require unprecedented levels of coordination, innovation, and investment. And then there’s the issue of cost — launching even a single satellite into orbit is an expensive endeavor, let alone a million of them.
Yet, this isn’t the first time SpaceX has floated an ambitious proposal with numbers that seem almost deliberately inflated. The company’s strategy appears to be to request approval for unrealistically large numbers of satellites as a starting point for negotiations. In the past, SpaceX has used this tactic to secure permission for 7,500 additional Starlink satellites, arguing that the initial request was a “floor, not a ceiling.”
Whether or not this latest filing leads to anything concrete, it underscores the growing intersection between space technology and artificial intelligence. As the demand for computing power continues to skyrocket, companies are looking to the stars for solutions. And with SpaceX at the helm, the line between science fiction and reality is becoming increasingly blurred.
For now, the proposal remains just that — a proposal. But it’s a proposal that hints at a future where the boundaries of technology, space, and civilization itself are pushed to their limits. Whether that future is one of boundless opportunity or unintended consequences is a question that only time — and perhaps the FCC — can answer.
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