SpaceX Vow to Loft 1M AI Satellites Could Spark Doomsday Dive (www.forbes.com)

Elon Musk's ambitious plan to launch one million AI data center satellites by 2028 has raised concerns among experts, who warn that this could lead SpaceX into financial instability. The cost of this mega-constellation is estimated to reach around $2 trillion, nearly the projected valuation of SpaceX following its initial public offering (IPO). While Musk envisions a future where space-based AI compute can meet growing demands, experts like rocket designer Robert Zubrin and space analyst Brian Hurley highlight that such a massive satellite rollout is economically impractical, especially given current launch costs and competition from terrestrial data centers. Key technical details underscore that powering these satellites with solar energy is far more expensive than using terrestrial alternatives, raising questions about their viability. A recent study from Google researchers hints at a future where space-based AI systems might become competitive, but they predict this won't happen until at least the mid-2030s. As SpaceX aims to revolutionize spaceflight with its reusable Starship, experts argue that prematurely investing in this expansive satellite network without proven feasibility could jeopardize the company's financial health and destabilize its operations.