SpaceX has requested permission to launch a million satellites as data centers

The concept envisions deploying data centers in space to utilize constant solar energy and natural cooling in a vacuum. This approach is intended to overcome the limitations of the terrestrial power grid, land use challenges, and the high costs of water cooling for large-scale AI infrastructure on Earth. According to the documents, the satellites will operate in low-Earth orbit at altitudes of 500 to 2,000 kilometers.

The project's implementation is said to hinge on the capabilities and reduced launch costs of SpaceX's Starship rocket system. The company asserts that without such a cost-effective transportation system, the idea would not be financially feasible. SpaceX believes this infrastructure could be a step toward meeting the computing needs of billions of future AI users.

The proposal is in the early stages of regulatory review and has not yet been approved. Other tech companies, such as Google's Project Suncatcher, are also showing interest in similar concepts. Critics, including those from the astronomy community, have expressed concern about the potential impact of such a large satellite constellation on observations from ground-based telescopes and the risk of increasing the amount of space debris. No specific timeline for the system's deployment has been disclosed.