SpaceX Seeks Approval for 1M Solar Satellite Data Centers

SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, just asked the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for the green light to launch up to one million solar-powered satellites that would act as orbiting hubs for AI computing.This all kicked off with a filing submitted late on January 30, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

SpaceX wants these satellites zipping around Earth at heights between 500 and 2,000 kilometers, soaking up constant solar energy in special orbits that keep them in the sun most of the time.

They'd talk to each other using laser links, handling massive data loads for artificial intelligence without relying on ground-based power plants. This represents a massive scale-up, only about 15,000 satellites orbit Earth right now.

Musk's team says this could slash costs and cut down on environmental harm compared to traditional data centers eating up land and electricity. AI is exploding and demanding way more computing power. SpaceX argues space is perfect for this, endless solar energy with low upkeep.

They didn't lay out a timeline or price tag in the request, and they're even asking to skip usual deadlines for rolling out half the network in six years.

If approved, launches could happen via their reusable Starship rocket from sites in Texas or Florida. So, this push could redefine how we handle AI's hunger for data.

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