SpaceX Seeks FCC Approval For 1 Million Solar-Powered Satellites
Filing asks the Federal Communications Commission to authorize up to 1,000,000 solar-powered 'orbital data centers' to process artificial intelligence workloads.
Overview
SpaceX filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission seeking authorization to deploy up to 1,000,000 solar-powered satellites described as "orbital data centers" to handle artificial intelligence computing, according to the filing posted Friday.
The filing says the constellation would harness near-constant solar power to reduce operating and cooling costs of AI processing, a proposal SpaceX argues would lower terrestrial data-center energy and water use.
Elon Musk wrote on X that "the satellites will actually be so far apart that it will be hard to see from one to another," and SpaceX said the plan relies on its fully reusable Starship rocket but offered no deployment timeline.
The European Space Agency estimates about 15,000 man-made satellites and debris currently orbit Earth, and SpaceX's Starlink network operates roughly 9,500 satellites, raising congestion and debris concerns noted by independent space experts.
The Federal Communications Commission must review the application and SpaceX acknowledged regulatory review and launch-vehicle constraints, while industry analysts said requests for very large constellations are often starting points for negotiation.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the SpaceX filing skeptically, emphasizing scale and feasibility concerns while foregrounding environmental and regulatory risks. They use evaluative language ('grandiose vision'), highlight ESA debris statistics, cite The Verge’s skepticism and FCC deferments, and juxtapose Amazon’s launch constraints — framing the proposal as aspirational but practically problematic.
Sources (3)
FAQ
The satellites would harness near-constant solar power in low Earth orbit to reduce operating and cooling costs for AI processing, lowering terrestrial data-center energy and water use.
The European Space Agency estimates around 15,000 man-made satellites and debris orbit Earth, with SpaceX's Starlink network operating roughly 9,500 to 11,000 satellites.
The full number is unlikely to be approved outright and serves as a starting point for negotiations; the FCC recently approved 7,500 additional Starlink satellites while deferring others.
SpaceX plans to use its fully reusable Starship rocket, with potential pilot testing of on-orbit compute nodes on Starlink V3 hardware later this year, but no specific timeline for the full constellation.
Experts note risks of orbital congestion, space debris, and pollution, as adding even a fraction of 1 million satellites would multiply current space traffic significantly.
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