Musk's Million Satellites: Space Data Centers or Orbital Nightmare?

Elon Musk's companies SpaceX and xAI aim to launch a constellation of one million satellites to function as orbital data centers. This ambitious project, detailed in a Federal Communications Commission application, proposes placing satellites between 500km and 2000km altitude. Proponents argue space offers superior efficiency for solar power and AI compute generation, potentially becoming the cheapest option within three years.

However, significant challenges loom, including dissipating heat from millions of GPUs in the near-vacuum of space and protecting advanced chips from cosmic radiation. Experts express doubts about the durability of cooling systems and the resilience of modern processors to bit flips caused by radiation. These hurdles may necessitate slower processing speeds or increased complexity.

Further concerns involve satellite longevity and maintenance, with experts suggesting a 'fly till you die' scenario rather than repairs. The plan also focuses on AI inference, not training, meaning AI models would still need terrestrial training. The sheer scale of one million satellites raises alarms about orbital congestion and the potential for Kessler syndrome, where collisions create cascading debris.

Additionally, the constant launches and re-entry of satellites may negatively impact Earth's atmosphere, with unknown effects on polar cloud formations and the ozone layer. While SpaceX highlights potential cost and energy efficiencies, environmental mitigation plans remain scarce. The bright satellites could also disrupt astronomical research, and the monopolization of valuable orbits raises questions about resource allocation.