SpaceX has filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking approval to deploy a constellation of up to 1 million solar-powered data center satellites in low Earth orbit. While the FCC is unlikely to approve such a massive network, SpaceX has a history of requesting permission for far larger satellite constellations than it ultimately plans to launch, using these figures as leverage in negotiations. The proposal envisions a vast network of orbiting data centers that would communicate with each other using laser links, enabling high-speed, low-latency data processing across the globe. In its filing, SpaceX describes the project in visionary terms, referring to it as a “first step towards becoming a Kardashev II-level civilization — one that can harness the Sun’s full power.” This ambitious vision reflects SpaceX’s long-term goal of creating a self-sustaining, space-based infrastructure for computing. Even if only a fraction of the 1 million satellites are ultimately deployed, the expansion would dramatically increase the number of man-made objects in space. Currently, the European Space Agency estimates there are around 15,000 operational satellites in orbit, with over 9,600 of them belonging to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. The updated figure reflects only active satellites, correcting an earlier error that cited over 11,000 Starlink satellites, including decommissioned ones. The proposal has raised concerns among space experts and environmental advocates. The growing number of satellites and space debris already poses risks of orbital collisions and long-term congestion in key orbital paths. Critics argue that deploying such a massive network could worsen the space debris problem and threaten the sustainability of Earth’s orbital environment. SpaceX contends that its orbital data centers would be a more sustainable alternative to land-based facilities, which are increasingly controversial. Traditional data centers consume vast amounts of water, strain local power grids, and contribute to environmental degradation. In contrast, SpaceX argues that its satellites could dissipate heat directly into the vacuum of space and operate almost entirely on real-time solar power, with minimal reliance on batteries. With growing public resistance to new data center construction — including successful community-led efforts to block projects — major AI companies are exploring remote and unconventional locations. Space, with no local communities to oppose development, has emerged as a potential frontier for scalable, environmentally neutral computing infrastructure. While the full-scale deployment of 1 million satellites remains highly unlikely, the filing signals SpaceX’s ambition to redefine where and how computing infrastructure is built in the age of artificial intelligence.