In an email sent to SpaceX employees on Monday, Musk stated that Starship will begin launching V3 Starlink satellites into orbit this year, along with next-generation satellites capable of direct connection to mobile devices. He indicated that these launches will serve as a "catalyst" to enhance Starship's performance, enabling faster reusability and thereby facilitating the deployment of data centers.
Musk wrote: "The sheer number of satellites required for space-based data centers will propel Starship's development to new heights. With the capability of launching every hour and delivering 200 tons of cargo per flight, Starship will transport millions of tons of material to orbit and beyond annually, unlocking an exciting future for human exploration of the cosmos."
Musk informed employees that launching one million tons of satellites per year, with each ton generating 100 kilowatts of computing power, would add 100 gigawatts of AI computing capacity annually, "without requiring ongoing operation or maintenance." Ultimately, Musk believes it is feasible to launch one terawatt of satellites from Earth each year.
Musk wrote: "I estimate that within two to three years, space will become the lowest-cost pathway for AI computing. This cost advantage alone will enable innovative companies to train AI models and process data at unprecedented speeds and scales, accelerating breakthroughs in our understanding of physics and inventing technologies that benefit humanity."
But acquiring an AI company and dedicating so much effort to building orbital data centers? Does this align with the Mars mission? Musk clearly believes it does.
"While launching AI satellites from Earth is the current focus, Starship's capabilities will also enable operations on other planets," he wrote. "Thanks to advancements in technologies like in-space propellant transfer, Starship will be capable of delivering substantial cargo to the Moon. Once there, it becomes possible to establish permanent research and manufacturing bases. Factories on the Moon could utilize lunar resources to manufacture satellites and deploy them further into space."
He stated that from there, Mars will be within reach.
"The capabilities we unlock by achieving space-based data centers will fund and support the establishment of self-sustaining bases on the Moon, a full-fledged civilization on Mars, and ultimately expansion throughout the universe," he wrote.
At the very least, that is his vision.
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