SpaceX seeks federal approval to launch 1 million solar-powered satellite data centers

SpaceX has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch a massive constellation of up to 1 million solar-powered satellites designed to function as data centers for artificial intelligence (AI) computing. The company describes these satellites as an efficient solution to meet the rapidly growing demand for AI processing power and envisions this project as a step toward achieving a Kardashev II-level civilization—one capable of harnessing the full energy output of the Sun—and supporting humanity’s long-term multi-planetary future. The filing comes amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny and concerns about space debris, as the FCC recently authorized only a fraction of a large satellite proposal, deferring decisions on nearly 15,000 satellites. The European Space Agency has also highlighted the increasing problem of space pollution caused by existing satellites. This proposal by SpaceX coincides with Amazon’s plans to deploy over 1,600 satellites, despite rocket availability challenges. Additionally, SpaceX is reportedly expanding its AI ambitions through collaborations with Tesla and x