SpaceX wants to launch a million satellites to service AI
Elon Musk's company SpaceX submitted an application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the USA for the launch of up to a million satellites, which are supposed to form an orbital data center powered by solar energy. It is designed to process requests related to artificial intelligence.
What is known
The document states that the satellite system is to be placed in dense orbital layers with a step of up to 50 km. According to SpaceX, orbital data centers are the "most efficient way to meet the growing demand for AI computing" because they run on solar energy and require almost no maintenance.
The idea of an orbital data center is not being discussed for the first time. It was previously mentioned by company insiders amid talks about a possible SpaceX IPO.
For comparison: currently, there are over 9,600 Starlink satellites in orbit (as of January 30), and a total of 11,000 have been launched. It is expected that the FCC may reduce the request, as it has done before. In January, the commission approved the launch of 7,500 new satellites, although in 2020 SpaceX requested permission for 30,000.
Source: Reuters
