[SmokingJoe]

SpaceX Wants to Launch Up to 1 Million Satellites as Orbital AI Data Centers

• Seeking approval to deploy and operate up to one million satellites functioning as orbital data centers.
• Provides massive computing power for advanced AI and data processing.
• Relies on near-constant solar energy in space to cut operating costs and environmental impact vs. Earth-based centers.
• Satellites would orbit between 500 km and 2,000 km altitude, in multiple orbital shells for global coverage.
• High-speed laser links connect satellites to each other and the Starlink network for petabit-level data transfer.
• Data routed to authorized ground stations worldwide.
• Driven by exploding demand from AI, machine learning, and edge computing that terrestrial infrastructure can't keep up with.
• Framed as a step toward multi-planetary civilization powered by space-based infrastructure.

Source: DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) on X – Posted Jan 31, 2026

[Kudsman]

Oh my. That Elon is really something.

[one guy in new jersey]

multi-planetary never

can we please recognize/admit this and pivot toward reality

[PIF]

Possibly looks like the unknown ??objects?? that form a precise-edged shadow across 15 G & M class stars surrounding our star, with Tabby’s Star being the most famous of the 15. There is no plausible natural explanation so far.

[AFB-XYZ]

Gee, what could possibly go wrong?

[Magnum44]

This is beyond dumb. Put your data centers underground where they’re protected.

[Nervous Tick]

Well, outer space is definitely NIMBY! In fact it fits BANANA too.

Go for it!

[The Sons of Liberty]

BREAKING: SpaceX wants to turn Space into the World’s Biggest AI Data Center.

Ordinarily I would say that this is too expensive and impractical, but given Elon's history, I can't wait to see it happen.

[marktwain]

Here is a RAND corporation study on the vulnerability of non-military satellites.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3028-3.html

Key Findings

A 400-km detonation would jeopardize many satellites

A detonation of 110 kilotons or greater would jeopardize up to about 20 percent of the satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) from prompt radiation.

Detonations larger than 110 kilotons would expose the same number of satellites to greater radiation.

A detonation of considerable yield could jeopardize another large fraction of LEO satellites from delayed effects of trapped electrons for years.

Relaunching and quickly reconstituting a satellite constellation might not be feasible.

Exactly how many satellites would be jeopardized and for how long depends on where trapped electrons would be concentrated and how many.

The detonation could interfere with radio communications between the ground and satellites locally for hours.

A 400-km detonation or any detonation within LEO would significantly degrade space-based communications, remote sensing, and weather services.