Musk's 'StarMind' Space Data Center Plan Faces Cost and Timeline Doubts

SpaceX plans to launch its 'StarMind' space data center in 2027, but OpenAI's Altman, SoftBank's Son and a Google paper question its viability, estimating costs at over five times ground-based alternatives. Analysts also highlight the challenge of launching 200,000 satellites annually.

Source: 日经中文网

A debate is unfolding in U.S. tech circles over a space-based AI data center. Elon Musk's SpaceX aims to launch the 'StarMind' space data center in 2027, but the idea faces skepticism from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son, and research teams questioning its cost.

The concept involves deploying satellite clusters equipped with AI semiconductors in Earth orbit, using solar power for continuous electricity. The plan gained attention after SpaceX included it as a growth pillar in its IPO prospectus. On July 8, SpaceX revealed the 'AI1' satellite concept on social media, and in early July, its website introduced 'StarMind', with production and orbital placement targeted for the second half of 2027.

Altman, in a July 11 X post, accused Musk of luring investors with a short-term space data center 'scheme' and doubted its near-term feasibility. Son, at a SoftBank shareholders' meeting in late June, stated that space technology would take over a decade to yield results, and that current ground-based data centers are more crucial. He noted electricity accounts for only about 7% of data center operating costs, making savings from solar power marginal.

Cost is a central point of contention. A Google research team's November 2025 paper compared space and ground costs: maintaining 1 kilowatt of computing capacity in space costs $14,700 per year, versus $570 to $3,000 on the ground, making space at least five times more expensive. This estimate used SpaceX's existing rockets.

Achieving 'StarMind' depends on slashing launch costs with SpaceX's under-development Starship heavy rocket. U.S. research firm MoffettNathanson calculated that a 1-million satellite network would require launching 200,000 satellites per year—about 9 per day—needing 30 Starships annually. Its analysts called this a major challenge, questioning early realization.

In a June 8 interview, Musk expressed confidence, aiming for 1 gigawatt of AI computing power in space by end-2027. Nvidia and Google have also shown interest. The first steps will be ramping up Starship launches and production.