# SpaceX orbital compute (with xAI): orbital data center program

> United States (United States), launch provider. Stage 1 of 7: Concept. It has filed for up to 1,000,000 satellites and shown a draft compute satellite design (AI1), but no compute satellite has launched. Its CFO targets a first flight in 2027; its prospectus says deployment could begin as early as 2028.

- Canonical page: https://spacenexus.us/orbital-data-centers/spacex-orbital-compute
- This Markdown version: https://spacenexus.us/orbital-data-centers/spacex-orbital-compute.md
- Data as of: 2026-10-05 (last evidence review)
- How the numbers are made: https://spacenexus.us/orbital-data-centers#method

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## Stage evidence

- It has filed for up to 1,000,000 satellites and shown a draft compute satellite design (AI1), but no compute satellite has launched. Its CFO targets a first flight in 2027; its prospectus says deployment could begin as early as 2028. Sources: [Investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/spacex-at-goldman-sachs-communacopia--technology-conference-2026-compute-push-93CH-4896834); [US SEC (SpaceX 424B4 prospectus)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026042639/spaceexplorationtechnologi.htm)

## Key figures

- FCC filing, maximum satellites: 1,000,000 satellites. Sources: [FCC](https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-113A1.pdf)
- AI1 power, sustained / peak (as presented 2026-06-08): 120 / 150 kW (company claim). Sources: [DatacenterDynamics](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/spacex-details-ai1-satellite-data-center-claims-150kw-peak-compute/); [US SEC (free writing prospectus, filed 2026-06-09)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026041761/fwp_cfointerview.htm)
- Gen3 Starlink power per satellite (Musk, on X): 250 kW (company claim). Sources: [Elon Musk on X](https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2101466638939832365); [SatNews](https://satnews.com/2026/10/04/spacex-unveils-250-kw-starlink-gen3-ai-satellites-featuring-10-tbps-throughput-and-onboard-edge-compute/)
- FCC public comments on the filing: nearly 1,500 comments. Sources: [American Astronomical Society](https://aas.org/action-alert-provide-input-fcc-proposed-satellite-systems)

## Approach

- Orbit: Around 600 to 800 km (SpaceX, 2026-06-09 filing); FCC application shells 500 to 2,000 km
- Architecture: Purpose-built AI compute satellites (AI1) on the Starlink V3 bus, launched by Starship and laser-linked into Starlink; a Gigasat factory in Bastrop, Texas
- Power: AI1: about 120 kW sustained, 150 kW peak (June 2026 reveal, as reported). Musk (2026-10-01): next-generation Starlink satellites 250 kW each
- Cooling: Passive radiation; AI1 about 110 m2 deployable liquid radiator (reported)
- Compute: Musk (2026-10-01): a SpaceX-designed NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 per next-generation satellite
- Customers: xAI (internal). Anthropic has expressed interest; no orbital compute contract is public

## Milestones

| Date | Status | Confidence | Milestone | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-11-03 | achieved | Reported | Musk: SpaceX will do data centers in space by scaling Starlink V3. Reply on X. | [DatacenterDynamics](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/elon-musk-says-spacex-will-be-doing-data-centers-in-space/) |
| 2026-01-22 | achieved | Reported | Musk at Davos: space the cheapest place for AI within two to three years. Executive statement. | [Business Today](https://www.businesstoday.in/wef-2026/story/wef-summit-davos-2026-elon-musk-ai-data-centres-space-512507-2026-01-22) |
| 2026-01-30 | achieved | Confirmed | FCC application for up to 1,000,000 orbital data center satellites. Shells between 500 and 2,000 km with optical links to Starlink; accepted for filing (DA 26-113) on 2026-02-04; nearly 1,500 comments (AAS). | [SatNews](https://satnews.com/2026/01/31/spacex-files-fcc-application-for-million-satellite-orbital-data-center/); [FCC](https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-113A1.pdf); [American Astronomical Society](https://aas.org/action-alert-provide-input-fcc-proposed-satellite-systems) |
| 2026-02-02 | achieved | Confirmed | SpaceX acquires xAI to pursue orbital data centers. Combined value reported at about $1.25T. Musk memo: 100 GW per year of AI compute from a million tons of satellites a year. | [SpaceNews](https://spacenews.com/spacex-acquires-xai-in-bid-to-develop-orbital-data-centers/) |
| 2026-05-06 | achieved | Confirmed | Anthropic expresses interest in multiple gigawatts of orbital compute with SpaceX. Alongside a ground-based Colossus 1 agreement. Interest only. | [Anthropic](https://www.anthropic.com/news/higher-limits-spacex) |
| 2026-05-20 | achieved | Confirmed | S-1 risk factor: orbital AI compute may not be commercially viable. IPO prospectus says the plans involve unproven technology and depend on Starship reusability. | [The Next Web](https://thenextweb.com/news/spacex-orbital-data-centres-ipo-risk-disclosure); [US SEC](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026036936/spaceexplorationtechnologi.htm) |
| 2026-06-08 | achieved | Company claim | AI1 compute satellite design and Gigasat factory revealed. AI1: about 120 kW sustained, 150 kW peak; Gigasat about 11 million sq ft (as reported). | [DatacenterDynamics](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/spacex-details-ai1-satellite-data-center-claims-150kw-peak-compute/); [Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/big-tech/spacex-unveils-11-million-square-foot-gigasat-factory-a-new-manufacturing-facility-for-space-based-data-centers-aims-for-1-gw-year-of-space-ai-compute-by-late-2027-from-its-satellites) |
| 2026-06-09 | achieved | Confirmed | Prospectus filing: fly compute satellites in 2027, service in 2028, meaningful compute in 2029. Free writing prospectus (a video interview of 2026-06-08, filed 2026-06-09). Most quoted lines are CFO Bret Johnsen. Musk calls the AI1 design "a draft version". About 200 launches per gigawatt; around 600 to 800 km. | [US SEC (free writing prospectus, filed 2026-06-09)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026041761/fwp_cfointerview.htm); [US SEC (free writing prospectus, filed 2026-06-09)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026041761/fwp_cfointerview.htm); [US SEC (free writing prospectus, filed 2026-06-09)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026041761/fwp_cfointerview.htm) |
| 2026-09-10 | achieved | Company claim | CFO: first orbital compute satellites to fly next year on the V3 bus. CFO Bret Johnsen at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference. | [Investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/spacex-at-goldman-sachs-communacopia--technology-conference-2026-compute-push-93CH-4896834); [StockAnalysis (transcript)](https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/spcx/transcripts/740754-goldman-sachs-communacopia-technology-conference-2026/) |
| 2026-09-20 | achieved | Company claim | Musk: Gen3 Starlink satellites to be 250 kW with an NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72. An X reply about Gen3 Starlink, not a specification of the AI1 compute satellite. Not flown. | [Elon Musk on X](https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2101466638939832365); [SatNews](https://satnews.com/2026/10/04/spacex-unveils-250-kw-starlink-gen3-ai-satellites-featuring-10-tbps-throughput-and-onboard-edge-compute/) |
| 2026-09-28 | achieved | Confirmed | Starship Flight 14 reaches orbit and deploys 26 Starlink V3 satellites. V3 is the bus SpaceX says compute satellites will share; these V3s are broadband satellites. | [SpacePolicyOnline](https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/starship-achieves-orbit-for-the-first-time/) |

## Announced next steps (as the organisation stated them)

- 2027 (CFO, 2026-06-09 and 2026-09-10); service as early as 2028 (prospectus): First orbital compute satellites. Sources: [Investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/spacex-at-goldman-sachs-communacopia--technology-conference-2026-compute-push-93CH-4896834); [US SEC (SpaceX 424B4 prospectus)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026042639/spaceexplorationtechnologi.htm); [US SEC (free writing prospectus, filed 2026-06-09)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026041761/fwp_cfointerview.htm)
- late 2027 (Musk target, as reported): 1 GW per year of orbital AI compute capacity. Sources: [Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/big-tech/spacex-unveils-11-million-square-foot-gigasat-factory-a-new-manufacturing-facility-for-space-based-data-centers-aims-for-1-gw-year-of-space-ai-compute-by-late-2027-from-its-satellites)
- 2030 (Musk): 100 GW per year of orbital AI compute. Sources: [Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/spacex-acquires-xai-in-a-bid-to-make-orbiting-data-centers-a-reality-musk-plans-to-launch-a-million-tons-of-satellites-annually-targets-1tw-year-of-space-based-compute-capacity)

## What to watch (SpaceNexus note, not a prediction)

Whether a first orbital compute satellite launches in 2027, and how the FCC rules on the 1,000,000-satellite application.

## Filings (applications, not approvals)

- FCC, 30 Jan 2026: SpaceX Orbital Data Center System, up to 1,000,000 satellites (file SAT-LOA-20260108-00016); accepted for filing DA 26-113 on 2026-02-04; comments due 2026-03-06; the 20260108 in the file number is the ICFS record date. Sources: [FCC](https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-113A1.txt); [SatNews](https://satnews.com/2026/01/31/spacex-files-fcc-application-for-million-satellite-orbital-data-center/)
- SEC, 20 May 2026: IPO prospectus (424B4, 2026-06-12) and a free writing prospectus (2026-06-09): risk factor on orbital data center viability; "as early as 2028". Sources: [US SEC](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026036936/spaceexplorationtechnologi.htm); [US SEC (free writing prospectus, filed 2026-06-09)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026041761/fwp_cfointerview.htm)

## Cautions

- Wide gap between executive statements (Davos: two to three years; 100 GW per year by 2030) and the S-1 risk language.
- AI1 specs and the Gigasat 1 GW per year target come from secondary press.
- Space Force $2.29B Space Data Network contract (2026-05-27) is for moving data, not computing; context only.
- Timing differs by source: the CFO said 'next year' on 2026-09-10; the IPO prospectus says deployment could begin as early as 2028.

## People

- Elon Musk (CEO)
- Bret Johnsen (CFO)
- Ian Dahl (Director of Satellite Engineering)
- Michael Nicolls (xAI president, reported 2026-04-09; formerly SVP Starlink)

## Sources

- [Investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/spacex-at-goldman-sachs-communacopia--technology-conference-2026-compute-push-93CH-4896834)
- [US SEC (SpaceX 424B4 prospectus)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026042639/spaceexplorationtechnologi.htm)
- [FCC](https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-113A1.pdf)
- [DatacenterDynamics](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/spacex-details-ai1-satellite-data-center-claims-150kw-peak-compute/)
- [US SEC (free writing prospectus, filed 2026-06-09)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026041761/fwp_cfointerview.htm)
- [Elon Musk on X](https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2101466638939832365)
- [SatNews](https://satnews.com/2026/10/04/spacex-unveils-250-kw-starlink-gen3-ai-satellites-featuring-10-tbps-throughput-and-onboard-edge-compute/)
- [American Astronomical Society](https://aas.org/action-alert-provide-input-fcc-proposed-satellite-systems)
- [DatacenterDynamics](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/elon-musk-says-spacex-will-be-doing-data-centers-in-space/)
- [Business Today](https://www.businesstoday.in/wef-2026/story/wef-summit-davos-2026-elon-musk-ai-data-centres-space-512507-2026-01-22)
- [SatNews](https://satnews.com/2026/01/31/spacex-files-fcc-application-for-million-satellite-orbital-data-center/)
- [SpaceNews](https://spacenews.com/spacex-acquires-xai-in-bid-to-develop-orbital-data-centers/)
- [The Next Web](https://thenextweb.com/news/spacex-orbital-data-centres-ipo-risk-disclosure)
- [US SEC](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026036936/spaceexplorationtechnologi.htm)
- [Anthropic](https://www.anthropic.com/news/higher-limits-spacex)
- [Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/big-tech/spacex-unveils-11-million-square-foot-gigasat-factory-a-new-manufacturing-facility-for-space-based-data-centers-aims-for-1-gw-year-of-space-ai-compute-by-late-2027-from-its-satellites)
- [StockAnalysis (transcript)](https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/spcx/transcripts/740754-goldman-sachs-communacopia-technology-conference-2026/)
- [SpacePolicyOnline](https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/starship-achieves-orbit-for-the-first-time/)
- [Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/spacex-acquires-xai-in-a-bid-to-make-orbiting-data-centers-a-reality-musk-plans-to-launch-a-million-tons-of-satellites-annually-targets-1tw-year-of-space-based-compute-capacity)
- [FCC](https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-113A1.txt)

## Licence and credits

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