SpaceX seeks approval for vast AI satellite network in orbit
The rocket group has asked US regulators to back plans for up to one million solar-powered satellites designed to act as space-based data centres.
SpaceX has asked US regulators for permission to deploy up to one million satellites that would function as orbiting data centres for artificial intelligence, marking one of the most ambitious space infrastructure proposals ever submitted.
In a filing to the Federal Communications Commission, the company said the proposed constellation would be solar-powered and capable of meeting rapidly rising demand for AI computing capacity.
SpaceX framed the plan not only as a technological leap but as a strategic step towards long-term human expansion beyond Earth, arguing that harvesting solar energy in orbit would ultimately support a multi-planetary future.
Industry observers said the scale of the request makes approval in its current form unlikely.
The FCC has previously authorised SpaceX to expand its Starlink broadband network, but has also deferred large portions of earlier satellite proposals amid concerns about congestion and orbital safety.
Roughly 15,000 human-made satellites are already circling the planet, according to estimates from the European Space Agency, and scientists have warned that crowding in low Earth orbit risks worsening debris and light pollution.
The filing comes as rival projects face capacity constraints.
Amazon has sought extensions to meet regulatory deadlines for its own satellite network, citing limited access to launch vehicles.
The proposal also adds to growing scrutiny of SpaceX’s broader ambitions, as reports suggest the company is weighing closer integration with other ventures controlled by Elon Musk ahead of a possible public listing.
