SpaceX wants to put 1 million solar-powered data centers in orbit

SpaceX I submitted an application with the Federal Communications Commission on Friday Seek approval To set a constellation of 1 million Data center Satellites In orbit. While the FCC is unlikely to approve an expanded network, SpaceX’s strategy has been to seek approval for unrealistically large numbers of satellites as Starting point For negotiations.

The submission proposes creating a network of solar-powered data centers in low Earth orbit that communicate with each other via lasers. The filling speaks of the constellation in ambitious science fiction terms, describing it as “the first step toward becoming a Kardashev level II civilization—one that can harness the full power of the sun.”

Even if a small fraction of those 1 million satellites end up in orbit, it would represent a significant increase in the number of human-made objects in space. The European Space Agency appreciates its presence around it 15,000 satellites Orbiting the Earth at the moment, most of it is Starlink. (More than 11,000 of them, according to… Jonathan Satellite Report.)

When experts are already concerned about abundance Space junk And the potential for Orbital collisionsSuch an explosion of objects in orbit would seem unwise. But SpaceX says orbital data centers will be a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative to the ground-based centers that form the backbone of the growing artificial intelligence industry. instead of Water siphon of communities, Groundwater contaminationand Raising electricity billsOrbiting data centers will be able to radiate heat into the vacuum of space and rely almost exclusively on real-time solar power and limited batteries.

The backlash has been against data centers increaseAnd societies are Increasingly winning Their battles to obstruct its construction. So it’s no surprise that the biggest names in AI are, too Divert their attention To one of the few places where no society bothers him.