Elon Musk’s SpaceX has filed a staggering application to launch one million satellites into orbit, unveiling a plan to build "orbital data centers" dedicated to powering Artificial Intelligence. The proposal, submitted to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), aims to bypass Earth’s energy constraints but has ignited fierce debate over space congestion.

The filing represents a pivot from mere connectivity (Starlink) to orbital computing. SpaceX argues that the terrestrial power grid and water resources cannot sustain the exponential growth of AI data centers. Their solution? Move the cloud literally above the clouds, where solar energy is limitless and the vacuum of space provides natural cooling.

Computing in the Vacuum

"This is a first step toward becoming a Kardashev Type II civilization," SpaceX claimed in the filing, referencing the scale of a society that can harness the full power of its star. The satellites would operate in low-Earth orbit (LEO), between 500km and 2,000km, creating a mesh network of flying supercomputers.

The logic is brutally efficient. AI chips generate immense heat and consume vast electricity. On Earth, this requires sprawling cooling towers and coal or gas plants. In space, the sun provides 24/7 power, and heat can be radiated away into the void without using a drop of water.

• The Scale: To put "one million" in context, there are currently fewer than 10,000 active satellites in orbit. Musk wants to multiply the total human presence in space by a factor of 100.
• The Tech: The satellites would use optical laser links to transfer petabytes of data between each other and ground stations, creating a "space brain" accessible from anywhere on Earth.
• The Funding: The move coincides with reports of a potential merger between SpaceX and xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence company, suggesting a vertical integration of hardware, launch, and software.

"A Land Grab in the Sky"

Competitors and astronomers are sounding the alarm. China has already responded, vowing to accelerate its own "gigawatt-class" space infrastructure. Critics warn that packing one million satellites into LEO could trigger the "Kessler Syndrome"—a chain reaction of collisions that renders orbit unusable for generations.

"Space is vast, but it is not infinite," warned an astrophysicist from Harvard. "If you put a million objects in those shells, you are creating a minefield. One mistake, one collision, and we lose access to space entirely."

The AI Arms Race

Despite the risks, the driving force is the insatiable hunger for AI compute. As models grow larger, the company that controls the most efficient training infrastructure wins. Musk is betting that the only way to scale is up—vertically.

The FCC faces immense pressure. Approving the license would cement US dominance in space and AI but could alienate international partners and risk the orbital environment. For Musk, however, the risk is worth the reward. "The satellites will be so far apart you won't even see them," he tweeted. "Space is big." Whether it is big enough for his ambition remains to be seen.