SpaceX has filed a sweeping application that could dramatically reshape Earth’s orbit. The company is seeking approval to launch as many as one million satellites to support what it calls “orbital data centers” designed to meet the exploding demand for artificial intelligence computing.
The proposal was submitted to the Federal Communications Commission and represents one of the most ambitious space infrastructure plans ever put forward.
Why SpaceX wants AI computing in orbit
According to the filing, traditional, Earth-based data centers are struggling to keep up with AI’s rapidly growing processing needs. SpaceX argues that AI workloads are already stretching the limits of terrestrial infrastructure, both in terms of energy consumption and scalability.
Instead, the company claims that satellite-based computing platforms could offer a more efficient alternative. These “orbital data centers” would rely on solar power, operate above the atmosphere, and avoid many of the cooling challenges faced by massive server farms on Earth.
SpaceX says the system could ultimately provide AI computing capacity for billions of users worldwide.
A massive expansion beyond Starlink
If approved, the plan would dwarf SpaceX’s existing satellite footprint. Its current Starlink internet network consists of nearly 10,000 satellites, already making it the largest constellation in orbit.
The proposed AI-focused network would increase that number by orders of magnitude, intensifying concerns about orbital congestion, collision risks, and long-term space sustainability.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and also head of Tesla and X, has dismissed fears of overcrowding. Writing on X, Musk said the satellites would be spaced so far apart that “it will be hard to see from one to another,” emphasizing the vast scale of space.
Low Earth orbit, high ambitions
Like Starlink, the new satellites would operate in low Earth orbit, at altitudes between roughly 500 and 2,000 kilometers. SpaceX claims this positioning allows for lower latency and faster data processing compared to higher orbits.
The company also framed the project in unusually grand terms, calling it a step toward becoming a Kardashev Type II civilization—a theoretical society capable of harnessing the full energy output of its star.
Environmental and safety concerns remain
Despite SpaceX’s claims of improved efficiency, experts remain cautious. Launching and maintaining hardware in orbit is still extremely expensive, and space-based infrastructure must contend with radiation, temperature extremes, and the growing problem of space debris.
Critics warn that a sharp increase in low-orbit satellites raises the likelihood of collisions, which could damage spacecraft or generate debris that threatens other missions. Astronomers have also previously complained that Starlink satellites interfere with telescope observations, particularly through radio emissions.
What happens next
The FCC application does not include a launch timeline, and regulatory approval—if it comes at all—could take years. Still, the filing alone signals how aggressively SpaceX is positioning itself at the intersection of AI, cloud computing, and space infrastructure.
Whether orbital data centers become a practical solution or remain a futuristic experiment, the proposal highlights just how far companies are willing to go to feed the world’s growing appetite for artificial intelligence.
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☞ El artículo completo original de Arthur Kay lo puedes ver aquí