SpaceX Seeks FCC Approval to Deploy Up to 1 Million Orbital AI ‘Data Centers’

Washington, D.C. - February 1, 2026 - SpaceX has formally applied to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to deploy a constellation of up to 1 million satellites in low Earth orbit designed to function as solar-powered orbital AI data centers, according to regulatory filings and reports.

The filing describes satellites operating at altitudes between roughly 500 km and 2,000 km, organized in orbital shells, each equipped with onboard AI compute capabilities powered by continuous solar energy. SpaceX said the concept aims to provide massive compute capacity for artificial intelligence workloads while reducing reliance on terrestrial data centers and grid power.

According to the filing, the orbital data centers would allow AI computations to run 24/7 in sunlight, minimizing energy constraints faced by traditional Earth-based facilities. SpaceX argued that this approach could also reduce carbon emissions, supporting environmental sustainability goals in line with its broader Starship and orbital infrastructure ambitions.

Experts caution, however, that approval for the full million satellites is unlikely. FCC filings often request high ceilings to allow flexibility, while final authorizations usually authorize significantly smaller numbers. Analysts also note that space traffic management, spectrum allocation, and orbital debris mitigation will be major regulatory considerations before any deployment.

SpaceX’s filing highlights the company’s reliance on its Starship launch system, which is expected to lower launch costs and enable large-scale orbital deployments. Elon Musk has described the concept as a “next-generation approach” to AI computing infrastructure that could complement Earth-based data centers and address the growing global demand for AI compute power.

The proposal comes as demand for AI and cloud computing continues to surge, putting pressure on terrestrial data centers. Industry analysts say even a partial implementation of orbital compute could reshape the AI infrastructure landscape, providing ultra-low-latency compute for certain high-demand applications while exploring entirely new models for distributed data processing.

While the FCC has yet to act on the filing, SpaceX’s request signals the company’s willingness to pursue ambitious, unconventional strategies to meet the next generation of AI computing demands.