In a Fox News interview in December, he said about exploring futuristic computing solutions, including placing data centers in orbit to directly harness solar power.
“One of our moonshots is to, how do we one day have data centers in space so that we can better harness the energy from the sun that is 100 trillion times more energy than what we produce on all of Earth today?” he was quoted as saying by Fortune.
He suggested that initial steps could begin around 2027, with pilot satellites testing the feasibility of such systems. According to him, within a decade, space-based data centers could become a more standard approach to building computing infrastructure.
“There’s no doubt to me that a decade or so away we’ll be viewing it as a more normal way to build data centres,” he added.
The conversation gained momentum after a viral post on
The post suggested that the era of “orbital computing” may be closer than expected, especially as top tech leaders begin aligning on the idea.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 1, 2026
Musk responded briefly, writing “true,” strengthening a position he has supported for years.
Musk has long advocated for expanding infrastructure into space. Through SpaceX, he has already deployed thousands of satellites under the Starlink project.
Space-based data centers refer to computing infrastructure placed in Earth’s orbit rather than on land. The concept aims to leverage uninterrupted solar power while reducing challenges such as cooling and land usage that traditional data centers face.
Such systems could also significantly lower energy consumption and environmental impact. However, the idea remains in its early stages and would require major technological breakthroughs, reduced launch costs, and infrastructure development.
