SpaceX plans massive satellite fleet for revolutionary orbital data center

SpaceX has submitted a significant application to the U.S. regulatory agency Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy up to one million satellites into orbit. The ambitious project aims to create a global data center network in space that will support artificial intelligence and high-performance data processing in unprecedented ways. According to industry reports, the application was filed on Friday evening.

FCC Approval for Unprecedented Satellite Constellation

In a comprehensive eight-page document, SpaceX outlined how the planned “orbital data center system” could operate. The company describes the satellite infrastructure as a system with “unmatched computing capabilities” specifically designed to support advanced AI models and their practical applications. The one million satellites are necessary to provide the required computing power for large-scale AI inference and data processing relevant to billions of users worldwide.

Technical Architecture in Orbit

The planned satellites would be positioned in multiple stacked orbital layers, each not exceeding a maximum thickness of 50 kilometers. This precise arrangement enables optimal distribution of computational load and data traffic in space. The innovative design would allow SpaceX to bring data processing closer to users while minimizing latency.

Future Vision for Space-Based Computing Power

With this project, SpaceX positions itself at the intersection of space technology and artificial intelligence. The orbital data center network could play a key role in meeting future AI demands by providing a decentralized, satellite-based computing infrastructure. FCC approval would be a crucial step in turning this satellite internet system with integrated computing power into reality.