Space exploration technology company SpaceX announced a new AI data center construction plan on Monday and confirmed that it is advancing the deorbiting operation of about 100 first-generation Starlink satellites as planned. This marks that the aerospace company led by Elon Musk is accelerating its expansion into the field of AI infrastructure.
According to information released by the company, SpaceX plans to build a data center specifically for AI workloads in the Midwest of the United States, which will directly utilize the high-speed and low-latency data backhaul capabilities provided by its Starlink satellite network. The data center is expected to have an installed capacity of approximately 250 megawatts and will use a liquid cooling system and energy management solution independently developed by SpaceX. The first batch of cabinets is scheduled to be put into use in the second quarter of 2027.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on social media that Starlink is not only a tool to provide Internet access to remote areas, but can also become a massive data transmission network for AI computing. As the scale of AI models continues to expand, distributed training puts forward higher requirements for data synchronization and transmission efficiency. SpaceX's low-orbit satellite architecture has unique potential to solve this problem.
At the same time, SpaceX confirmed that it is performing controlled deorbiting operations of about 100 first-generation Starlink satellites. The company said the satellites have exceeded their design service life and will be guided to burn safely in the atmosphere, complying with international space debris mitigation guidelines. SpaceX emphasized that deorbiting operations will not have any impact on on-orbit service satellites and user terminals, and that the new generation of Starlink satellites are equipped with more advanced propulsion systems and can achieve end-of-life disposal more flexibly.
Analysts pointed out that SpaceX is simultaneously promoting the construction of data centers and satellite upgrades, showing its strategic intention to build a "space + ground" integrated AI infrastructure. This layout is expected to provide AI companies with unique integrated solutions for computing power and data transmission, forming differentiated competitive barriers. Buoyed by the news, SpaceX shares rose about 3% in Monday trading. The company plans to reveal more partners and technical details about the AI data center in the coming months.