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Musk Says SpaceX Will Pursue Orbital Data Centers by Scaling Starlink V3

His on-the-record pledge turns a nascent concept into a stated SpaceX goal.

Overview

  • Musk replied on X that simply scaling Starlink V3 satellites with high-speed laser links "would work" and said SpaceX "will be doing this."
  • Reporting estimates Starlink V3 at roughly 1 Tbps per satellite, about ten times V2 mini capacity, positioning the platform for clustered computing in orbit.
  • A Quilty Space analyst estimates Starship could carry about 60 V3 satellites per flight, with launches possible as early as the first half of 2026 based on dispenser testing.
  • Coverage highlights major hurdles, including the need for very large spacecraft, extensive solar power, complex thermal management, and uncertain economics.
  • Industry interest is rising, with reports tying Eric Schmidt to orbital data infrastructure efforts and Jeff Bezos predicting gigawatt-scale space data centers within two decades.