The Silicon Sky: SpaceX Files for 1 Million Satellites to Build Orbital Data Centres

In what is being called the most ambitious regulatory filing in the history of spaceflight, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to launch a staggering one million satellites.

The filing, submitted late on January 30, 2026, signals a massive strategic pivot. SpaceX is no longer just aiming to be the world’s internet service provider through Starlink; it is seeking to become the world’s AI infrastructure landlord by moving massive data processing into Earth’s orbit.

1. The Vision: "Orbital Data Centres"
The core of the application describes a network of satellites that function as distributed processing nodes. Rather than just relaying data (as Starlink does), these "Orbital Data Centres" will perform heavy AI computations in space.

Bypassing the Grid: The primary driver is the "terrestrial power bottleneck." Terrestrial AI data centers are straining global energy grids and water supplies for cooling. In space, these satellites can harness near-constant solar energy without atmospheric interference.

Passive Cooling: AI chips generate immense heat. SpaceX plans to utilize the vacuum of space and the extreme cold of the orbital environment to dissipate heat via radiation, eliminating the need for the millions of gallons of water required by ground-based facilities.

xAI Integration: The filing follows rumors of a potential merger between SpaceX and Musk’s AI firm, xAI. Industry analysts suggest this constellation would serve as the dedicated "brain" for future iterations of Grok and other sovereign AI models.

2. Technical Scale & Deployment
If approved, this constellation would be nearly 100 times larger than the current Starlink network (which currently operates approximately 9,600 satellites).

Orbital Shells: The satellites would be organized into multiple "narrow shells" between 500 km and 2,000 km altitude. Each shell is designed to be only 50 km thick to allow for precise traffic management.

Starship Reliance: SpaceX noted that the deployment of a million-unit fleet is only possible through the Starship launch system, which is designed for the rapid, high-cadence delivery of heavy payloads.

Laser Interconnects: The satellites will use advanced optical inter-satellite links (lasers) to create a seamless mesh network, routing data between space-based processors and ground users with minimal latency.

3. The "Kardashev" Ambition
In the application, SpaceX frames the project as a step toward becoming a "Kardashev II-level civilization"—a hypothetical society capable of harnessing the total energy output of its parent star.

"Space is so vast as to be beyond comprehension... The satellites will actually be so far apart that it will be hard to see from one to another." > — Elon Musk, responding to concerns on X.

4. Backlash: Congestion and "Space Sovereignty"
The filing has immediately sparked a global debate over orbital sustainability and national security:

The Kessler Syndrome: Critics, including the Outer Space Institute, warn that a million satellites drastically increase the risk of a "Kessler Syndrome" event—a chain reaction of collisions that could render Low Earth Orbit (LEO) unusable for generations.

China’s Response: Just hours after the filing became public, Chinese state media reported that Beijing is fast-tracking its own "gigawatt-class space digital-intelligence infrastructure" to prevent a US "land grab" in the most desirable orbital slots.

Regulatory Scrutiny: While operators often request higher numbers than they intend to launch for "design flexibility," the sheer scale of 1,000,000 units is expected to face unprecedented legal challenges from astronomers and environmental groups.