February 5, 2026, 8:26 AM EST. SpaceX is pursuing a plan to orbit a data-center network of up to 1 million satellites, aiming to harness sun-synchronous orbits and laser links to supply AI workloads from space. The filing with the FCC outlines orbital shells from 500 to 2,000 kilometers, with near-continuous sun exposure for power. Musk has framed space-based AI data centers as a no-brainer because solar panels and passive radiative cooling would replace water- and active cooling on Earth. Experts warn cooling remains the decisive hurdle: radiators facing away from the Sun and the limits of passive cooling could throttle performance. The project would demand a staggering deployment cadence-potentially hundreds of thousands of satellites per year-and raises questions about cost, reliability, and regulatory approvals amid SpaceX's broader AI and IPO ambitions.
