SpaceX leadership has informed investors that the company intends to begin initial testing of space-based artificial intelligence computing systems by late 2027, according to two individuals who participated in investor meetings conducted before the company’s public stock offering.
This timeline represents an acceleration from the “as early as 2028” schedule mentioned in the company’s IPO documentation for deploying this technology.
The space-based computing initiative represents a key component of SpaceX’s long-term expansion strategy presented to potential investors. In its public offering materials, the company states it is “the only company with a commercially viable path to building orbital AI compute at scale.”
The company has sought regulatory approval to deploy as many as 1 million satellites designed to function as data centers in space.
Two investor briefings conducted prior to the IPO, both including President Gwynne Shotwell and Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsen, featured SpaceX leadership presenting a timeline to start showcasing orbital computing technology in 2027, based on accounts from the two sources with knowledge of these discussions. Both individuals attended a Goldman Sachs session, with one also present at an additional meeting.
Though the IPO paperwork indicated orbital data center launches might commence as early as 2028, it did not differentiate between test missions and full commercial operations.
Shotwell and Johnsen, who have been conducting meetings with prominent investment firms to secure a $75 billion capital raise through the company’s IPO seeking a $1.75 trillion market value, characterized the early launches as proof-of-concept systems designed to verify the technology prior to any wider commercial deployment, sources reported.
One source suggested the IPO timeline gives leadership flexibility for possible setbacks in Starship rocket development or satellite production.
SpaceX has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the investor event that included multiple investors and fund managers.
Trading of SpaceX shares is set to commence on the Nasdaq this Friday using the ticker SPCX, with the IPO priced at a target of $135 per share.
The Starship rocket, which features complete reusability and serves as the foundation for the company’s orbital computing ambitions, continues to lag years behind the original schedule set by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and has not yet proven the quick turnaround reusability required to make massive deployment financially feasible.
While Musk has experienced project delays across his various companies, many involve complex challenges that were especially hard to resolve, noted Michael Monaghan, partner and portfolio manager at Founder ETFs, who did not attend the investor meetings.
“I think that orbital data centers, while a difficult problem, have some bounds on it, which to me gives greater confidence that the timelines laid out will be hit,” Monaghan said.
In a video published Monday, Musk stated that constructing orbital AI data centers does not present a major engineering obstacle since much of the necessary technology is already present in the company’s existing Starlink satellite constellation.
The initial AI satellite version will likely incorporate Nvidia processors, and the spacecraft’s computing capacity would match that of an Nvidia GB300 rack, according to the CEO.
