Jakarta, ThedailyID — Elon Musk has outlined an ambitious plan to build a massive network of artificial intelligence satellites called Starmind, a proposed orbital computing system that could eventually include up to one million spacecraft.
Despite its name, Starmind is not a natural star cluster. Instead, SpaceX envisions it as a mega-constellation of AI-powered satellites that would operate as data centers in Earth orbit.
The project would dramatically expand SpaceX’s satellite ambitions. If completed as planned, Starmind could become roughly 100 times larger than the company’s existing Starlink network.
According to Musk, the satellites would rely on nearly continuous solar energy available in space. That power supply could reduce operating and maintenance costs while supporting large-scale AI computing.
“By harnessing nearly constant solar power with minimal operating and maintenance costs, these satellites will transform our ability to scale computing,” Musk said in February.
According to Space, Musk also described Starmind as an early step toward a Type II Kardashev civilization. The theoretical concept refers to a civilization capable of harnessing the full energy output of its parent star.
SpaceX plans to deploy as many as one million satellites if the project moves forward. However, the company has not announced a development timeline or launch schedule.
Starmind also continues SpaceX’s long-running “Star” naming convention. The company already uses the prefix for projects including Starship, Starbase, Starlink, Starshield and Starfall.
Earlier in its history, SpaceX adopted a different naming theme. Its first rockets carried the name Falcon, inspired by the Millennium Falcon spacecraft from Star Wars.
The company also named its early rocket engines Merlin and Kestrel, following a bird-of-prey theme. Meanwhile, the latest engines powering Starship continue that tradition under the name Raptor.
