Elon Musk has set his sights on constructing a space-based data center. Back in January of this year, SpaceX submitted an application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), seeking permission to launch as many as 1 million satellites. The goal is to create a network of "orbital data centers" that will supply computing power for cutting-edge AI models and various applications.

On February 26, Jensen Huang, the President and CEO of Nvidia, delved into the feasibility of space data centers during an earnings call. He highlighted that the space environment is vastly different from that on Earth, which means new approaches to heat dissipation are essential. After all, in the vacuum of space, there's no natural air circulation to help cool down the equipment. However, Huang also pointed out that numerous computing tasks, like high-resolution imaging, can be processed more efficiently if carried out directly in space. Moreover, he emphasized that AI holds immense potential for space applications.

In early February, SpaceX acquired xAI, a move that catapulted it to become the world's most highly-valued private company. The primary objective of this merger is to pave the way for the creation of a space-based data center. Musk is confident that by continuously launching satellites to build this center, a steady stream of revenue can be secured.