SpaceX Seeks Approval for 1 Million Orbital Data Centers

One million. That's how many satellite data centers SpaceX wants to put into orbit, according to a filing submitted to the FCC on Friday. While the number sounds like science fiction, it represents the company's most ambitious vision yet for transforming how we think about computing infrastructure.

The Kardashev Civilization Dream

The filing doesn't shy away from grand ambitions. SpaceX describes the project as "a first step towards becoming a Kardashev II-level civilization" – one capable of harnessing a star's full energy output. The proposed network would consist of solar-powered data centers in low Earth orbit, communicating with each other through laser links.

Each satellite would operate independently, drawing power from solar panels that are 10 times more efficient in space than on Earth. Without atmospheric interference and with constant sunlight exposure, these orbital data centers could theoretically operate at peak efficiency around the clock.

Of course, the FCC is unlikely to approve anywhere near a million satellites. SpaceX's strategy has consistently been to request unrealistically large numbers as a negotiating starting point – a tactic that's worked well for their Starlink constellation, which now operates over 5,000 satellites despite initial skepticism.

Why Space Data Centers Make Sense Now

The timing isn't coincidental. Earth-based data centers are hitting physical and economic limits. They consume roughly 1% of global electricity and require massive cooling systems that drive up both costs and carbon emissions. Meanwhile, AI computing demands are exploding, with companies like Microsoft and Google struggling to meet their carbon neutrality goals.

Space offers elegant solutions to these terrestrial problems. No cooling costs in the vacuum of space. No real estate constraints. No local power grid limitations. And crucially, no regulatory battles with communities concerned about noise, heat, or environmental impact.

Amazon has already started exploring space-based computing with their AWS Snowcone devices on the International Space Station. Microsoft is testing underwater data centers. The logical next step? Going fully orbital.

The Economics of Orbital Computing

But here's where the math gets interesting – and controversial. Launching satellites still costs thousands of dollars per kilogram, even with SpaceX's reusable rockets. A single data center satellite might cost $10-50 million to build and deploy. Compare that to a terrestrial data center that might cost $10-20 million per megawatt of capacity.

The economics only work if space-based computing offers capabilities that Earth-based systems can't match. Low latency for global communications. Processing power for space missions. Data sovereignty that transcends national boundaries. Computing resources that can be rapidly repositioned anywhere on Earth.

Industry Disruption on the Horizon

If SpaceX succeeds, it could fundamentally reshape the cloud computing landscape. Traditional data center operators like Digital Realty and Equinix would face competition from above – literally. Cloud giants might need to reconsider their massive terrestrial investments.

The implications extend beyond computing. Space-based data processing could enable real-time analysis of Earth observation data, instantaneous global communications, and computing resources for future Mars missions. It's infrastructure that serves both today's internet and tomorrow's interplanetary civilization.

Regulators face unprecedented questions too. Who governs data centers in international space? How do you ensure cybersecurity when your servers are orbiting overhead? What happens when satellites fail or become space debris?