SpaceX has taken a dramatic new step toward reshaping the future of satellite technology and large-scale artificial intelligence computing. In a freshly submitted request to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the company is seeking authorization to launch and operate up to 1 million satellites designed to function as orbital data centers—essentially turning space into a vast, always-on computing platform.
In its filing, SpaceX describes the plan in striking terms, calling it “a first step towards becoming a Kardashev II-level civilization.” The Kardashev scale is a well-known framework for measuring a civilization’s technological advancement based on how much energy it can control. A Type II civilization is one capable of harnessing the full power output of its star—often associated with concepts like a Dyson sphere, a theoretical mega-structure built to capture most or all of a star’s energy.
SpaceX’s approach focuses on a practical advantage unique to space: constant access to sunlight. Solar power in orbit can be harvested far more continuously than on Earth, where night cycles and weather reduce availability. By placing compute-heavy infrastructure above the atmosphere, SpaceX is effectively proposing to power advanced AI workloads with near round-the-clock solar energy, then deliver that computing capability through a massive satellite network.
This ambitious request arrives as SpaceX continues expanding its next-generation Starlink system. The FCC recently granted approval for the company to operate up to 15,000 second-generation (Gen2) Starlink satellites, with SpaceX now able to deploy thousands more units to reach that total. These Gen2 satellites are expected to significantly push satellite broadband forward with improved performance and responsiveness, while also enabling new capabilities.
Key upgrades often associated with Gen2 Starlink satellites include major throughput gains, lower latency, and support for direct-to-cell services—allowing satellites to connect to regular, unmodified mobile phones. They’re also designed with greater maneuverability and advanced collision-avoidance automation, which becomes increasingly important as Earth’s orbit grows more crowded.
The direct-to-cell angle is especially important because it points to a future where traditional mobile coverage gaps could shrink dramatically. There’s also growing speculation that Starlink could play a role in smartphone satellite connectivity features in future devices. Industry reporting has suggested upcoming premium phones may support 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) technology, which expands coverage by allowing cellular networks to use satellites as part of their infrastructure.
Even with Starlink’s rapid rollout and expanding regulatory approvals, the scale of SpaceX’s newest idea stands apart. A million-satellite constellation aimed at turning orbit into a computing layer for AI is not just another connectivity project—it’s a vision for moving energy, computing, and communications into space in a way that could redefine what commercial infrastructure looks like over the next few decades.
If approved and executed, this FCC request could mark one of the first serious commercial moves toward a future where humanity relies on space-based energy and computing at an unprecedented scale—an idea that, until recently, lived mostly in science fiction and long-term theory.
