SpaceX president pitches orbital data centers: land prices jump 60x near compute sites
aaronburnett · x · 2026-09-15
SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell laid out the case for data centers in space:
- Ground costs are out of control: once a supercompute site leaks, land goes from $3,000 to $180,000 an acre; permits are stifling and generators take three years.
- Demand can't wait: "The demand for compute is insatiable. People need it now."
- SpaceX's edge: in-house launch, infinite free real estate in orbit, and radiators ready-made for cooling.
It's SpaceX leadership's most concrete public statement yet on orbital data centers, hinting the company may enter compute infrastructure.
Related event: SpaceX President: Space Data Centers Are the Answer as Ground Costs Soar(2 posts)→
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