Elon Musk targets 2027 for solar-powered data centers in space

Ron Baron says SpaceX plans to start putting AI compute into orbit in 2027, with bigger deployments expected in 2028 Elon Musk wants to move the AI data center boom somewhere with no zoning boards. Specifically, low Earth orbit. According to Ron Baron, CEO of Baron Capital, Musk plans to launch solar-powered data centers into orbit in 2027 and 2028. If the timeline holds, the cloud may soon be closer to space than anyone imagined. Baron shared the details in a CNBC interview on November 6, 2026. He said SpaceX is expected to begin orbital launches in 2027, with significant deployments projected for 2028. What SpaceX is actually trying to build The project goes by the name “Starmind,” or AI1, according to the research findings. Both labels describe an orbital AI compute initiative run by SpaceX. The first-generation design targets peak compute of 120-150 kW per satellite. The research findings describe the initial capability as around 120 kW, which they compare to high-end terrestrial systems. The solar arrays are said to achieve approximately 250 W/m² efficiency. That figure matters because power is the entire point of putting a data center in orbit. Cooling is the other selling po...