STARMIND
Capturing solar energy in space to power low-cost, high-performance AI compute for Earth.
AI1
Orbital satellite with localized compute that takes advantage of readily available power and cooling in space and beams back data via high-bandwidth lasers to the Starlink constellation.
| DEPLOYED HEIGHT | 20 m / 65 ft |
| WINGSPAN | 70 m / 229 ft |
| COMPUTE PAYLOAD | 150 kW peak / 120 kW average |
| vehicle efficiency | 70 kW / ton |
How it works
space-based compute
Satellites with localized AI compute, where the results are beamed back from low-latency, sun-synchronous orbit, are the fastest way to scale given the growing difficulty of finding electrical power sources on Earth.
Proven Technology
SpaceX's AI satellites use proven technology and are more streamlined than the Starlink satellites we already manufacture at scale.
Modular
We are AI chip vendor agnostic. Our system architecture supports compute modules from any provider.
Superior Cooling
Heat radiates freely into the vacuum of space. Without the need for energy-intensive chillers, cooling towers, fans, or dry coolers necessary in terrestrial data centers, SpaceX’s AI satellites reduce cooling power overhead by an order of magnitude.
Laser Connectivity
High-speed laser links interconnect satellites and beam AI results back to Earth through Starlink. Low-latency, high-bandwidth connection.
Gigasat Factory
SpaceX is building the Gigasat Factory in Bastrop to manufacture AI satellites at massive scale. This facility is planned to enable rapid production and deployment of thousands of AI satellites starting as soon as late 2027.
Limiting Factors:
To unlock gigawatt-scale AI compute in space, we must solve three fundamental constraints that limit ground-based data centers:
Mass to Orbit
Starship’s fully reusable architecture and unmatched payload capacity are critical for deploying large, heavy AI satellites into orbit.
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It's Always sunny in space
In sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), AI1 satellites capture continuous solar power with no weather or atmospheric loss, avoiding Earth’s grid, land, and cooling constraints.
AI Chips
SpaceX plans to produce advanced AI chips at scale in its new fab facility, a joint project with Tesla using a modular architecture that enables seamless integration and continuous upgrades of next-generation processors.
TERAFABSpace Safety
By prioritizing safety and long-term orbital sustainability, SpaceX ensures that our growing AI satellite constellation benefits humanity while protecting the space environment for future generations.
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