{"id":93821,"date":"2026-02-02T14:40:53","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T11:40:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/?p=93821"},"modified":"2026-02-02T14:45:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T11:45:14","slug":"spacex-seeks-approval-to-launch-1-million-satellites-for-orbital-data-centres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/spacex-seeks-approval-to-launch-1-million-satellites-for-orbital-data-centres\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX Seeks Approval to Launch 1 Million Satellites for Orbital Data Centres"},"content":{"rendered":"

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has submitted<\/a> a request to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for permission to launch a constellation of 1 million satellites for data processing centres.<\/p>\n

The company likely anticipates that regulators will not approve such an extensive network and is using the inflated figure as a starting point for negotiations.<\/p>\n

The project envisions a network of data centres in low Earth orbit, interconnected by laser channels. The document employs grandiose language, describing it as a “first step towards a Type II civilisation on the Kardashev scale<\/span>.”<\/p>\n

Even if only a small fraction of the proposed 1 million satellites are launched, the number of artificial objects in space would significantly increase. According to estimates<\/a> by the European Space Agency, around 15,000 satellites currently orbit Earth, with more than 9,600 belonging to SpaceX.<\/p>\n

Experts are concerned about the growth of space debris and the risk of collisions in orbit. Meanwhile, Musk’s company claims that orbital data centres will be a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to terrestrial ones.<\/p>\n

Instead of draining water from populated areas, contaminating groundwater, and increasing electricity bills, space-based facilities could rely on real-time solar energy and cooling in a vacuum.<\/p>\n

Data for AI<\/h2>\n

Musk’s ambitions in AI are expanding. On January 15, SpaceX revised Starlink’s privacy policy to allow the collection of customer data for training neural networks.<\/p>\n

The updated document states<\/a> that information may also be shared with service providers and “third-party partners” without providing additional details.<\/p>\n

Starlink collects vast amounts of user data, including credit card information and IP addresses.<\/p>\n

Earlier reports indicated that Musk’s three companies\u2014SpaceX, xAI, and Tesla\u2014are in merger talks. The deal could occur before the space company’s IPO, consolidating Grok, X, Starlink, and rockets into a single entity.<\/p>\n