SpaceX has submitted a request to the Federal Communications Commission to launch up to 1 million solar-powered satellites to serve as data centers for artificial intelligence.
The company’s filing lays out a grandiose vision that not only describes these planned satellites as “the most efficient way to meet the accelerating demand for AI computing power,” but also frames them as “the first step toward becoming a Kardashev II-level civilization capable of harnessing the full power of the sun,” while also “ensuring a multi-planetary future for humanity among the stars.”
The Verge argued that the one million satellite numbers are unlikely to be fully approved and are probably meant as a starting point for negotiations. The FCC recently granted SpaceX permission to launch 7,500 additional Starlink satellites but said it would delay approval for “the remaining 14,988” proposed satellites.
There are currently around 15,000 satellites orbiting Earth, according to the European Space Agency, and they are already causing pollution and debris problems.
The filing also comes as Amazon is seeking an extension to the FCC’s deadline to place more than 1,600 satellites in orbit, citing a rocket shortage. Meanwhile, SpaceX is reportedly considering merging with Elon Musk’s other two companies, Tesla and xAI (which has already merged with X), ahead of going public.
