Musk predicts: space AI computing power will far exceed ground computing power by 2029
Musk tweeted a prediction on the X platform that by 2029, the AI and cloud computing processing capacity deployed in low Earth orbit will far exceed ground computing power, and said that by 2028, the monthly new deployment of orbital computing power will already surpass ground computing power. Google's "Suncatcher" project sent its first experimental spacecraft into orbit in October, while Blue Origin submitted its "Project Sunrise" plan to deploy up to 51,600 data center satellites.
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World's richest person Musk predicts: space AI computing power will far exceed ground computing power by 2029
IT Home Download the client app for exclusive early access October 31, 2026, 15:37:15 From Shandong Updated October 31, 2026, 15:56:18
IT Home, October 31 news: The world's richest person, Elon Musk, posted a tweet today (October 31) on the X platform, predicting that the AI and cloud computing processing capacity deployed in low Earth orbit by 2029 will far exceed ground computing power.
IT Home attaches the relevant screenshot below:
Musk predicts that by 2028, the monthly newly added deployment of orbital computing power (space computing capacity) will exceed that of ground computing power, and by 2029 it will "far exceed" ground computing power. "Orbital computing power" here refers to computing capacity such as AI / GPUs deployed in satellites or space data centers, whose potential advantages include space solar power supply, heat dissipation conditions, and the ability to be launched and deployed on a large scale.
As demand for AI training and inference surges, ground data centers are facing multiple constraints, including power shortages, slow grid expansion, tight land and water resources, and community opposition. Supporters believe that sending servers, GPUs, and storage devices into low Earth orbit can take advantage of stronger and more continuous sunlight in space and break free from dependence on the ground power grid.
In a suitable sun-synchronous orbit, a satellite can receive sunlight almost around the clock, thereby providing stable power for energy-hungry AI chips. Industry research points out that the solar irradiance intensity in space can reach about 1,361 watts per square meter and is unaffected by day and night or weather.
Musk is no longer alone in this track. Google's "Suncatcher" project sent its first experimental spacecraft into orbit in October to explore the feasibility of running machine learning computing power in space; Blue Origin, backed by Bezos, has also submitted a plan called "Project Sunrise" to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, planning to deploy up to 51,600 data center satellites.
SpaceX's ambitions are even greater. The company has applied to build an orbital data center constellation of up to 1 million satellites, operating at altitudes between 500 and 2,000 kilometers, and plans to transmit data in coordination with the Starlink network.
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