SpaceX launches AI1 orbital satellite to power space data centers ahead of $75B IPO

SpaceX has unveiled plans on how to power orbital data centers as Elon Musk is pushing to build space-based data centers in the nearly two to three years.

Speaking in a recent interview on Monday posted on the official account of SpaceX, Musk provided a technical update on SpaceX’s capability to manufacture, launch, and operate AI satellites at scale.

During the 30-minute, the CEO of SpaceX also unveiled its first generation AI1 orbital compute satellite to power space-based data centers, thereby evading the need of terrestrial power grids.

The announcement comes ahead of the company’s potentially record-breaking IPO which is expected to raise the target to $75 billion and valuation to approximately $1.75 trillion. It is scheduled to price on June 11 and begin trading on June 12.

In the video, Musk also offered some insights into what SpaceX's first satellite may look like and what features it would contain.

Talking about the specifications of AI1 orbital compute satellite, it consists of:

• 150 kW peak compute payload
• 120 kW average compute payload
• 70 kW per ton power density 
• Compute provider interchangeable

Thermal system to cool server racks

• 110 m² deployable liquid radiator
• Integrated micrometeoroid shielding
• Deployable liquid radiators

Solar power system:

• 150 kW solar array
• 250 W/m² Energy efficient matrix
• SpaceX-manufactured solar technology from Bastrop, Texas

Architecture:

• Centralized compute module
• Large deployable solar arrays
• Deployable liquid-radiator thermal management system

According to Musk, AI1’s 150 kW peak compute payload possesses significant capacities comparable to the Nvidia GB300 AI server rack, capable of drawing 140kW.

“Part of what I want to convey here is that there’s not some ‘magic’ that’s necessary, that doesn’t exist for AI satellites,” Musk said

Musk explained its architecture, citing, "The AI satellite is much simpler than a Starlink satellite. The AI satellite is essentially a lot of solar cells. You still need some laser links, but you don't have all of the super complex phased-array antennas. It's bigger, but a lot of this is technology we've already manufactured for the Starlink V3 satellites. We don't think this is a super hard problem compared to what we already do."

Gigasat factory in Bastrop, Texas

The 54-year-old billionaire also discussed the plans for its new Gigasat facility in Bastrop, Texas, spanning over 1000 acres of land along with 11 million square feet of manufacturing floor space.

The entire vertical supply chain will be integrated here consisting of the production of wafers, solar cells, solar ingots and fully assembled AI satellites under one facility. As per SpaceX CEO’s timeline, the factory is expected to reach mass production by late 2027.