SpaceX just unveiled detailed specs for its first-gen AI1 satellite, a compute platform wider than a Boeing 747’s 68.4-meter wingspan once deployed. The craft carries an interchangeable chip payload delivering an average 120 kW of compute power, peaking at 150 kW—roughly the power draw of one Nvidia GB300 rack on Earth. At 600 km altitude, its solar arrays span about 70 meters and generate up to 150 kW from roughly 600 m² of panels, tapping stronger sunlight outside the atmosphere and nearly continuous illumination in the right orbit. Cooling that much heat in vacuum requires 110 m² of liquid radiators, redundant pumps and micrometeoroid shielding. By comparison, the ISS rejects 70 kW with 422 m² of radiator costing as much as $500 million. Musk argues SpaceX’s experience with over 10,000 Starlink nodes proves they can handle heat rejection, but experts note those only produce 1–3 kW each. The satellite’s modular design lets SpaceX swap in chips from any vendor, sidestepping current shortages as its Terafab joint venture with Tesla comes online. The AI1 announcement landed days before SpaceX’s IPO, targeting a $1.75 trillion valuation. The company has FCC approval to launch up to a million data-center satellites and already inked a $920 million-per-month deal with Google. Some industry figures, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman, call the idea “ridiculous.” High launch costs, maintenance impossibility and upfront depreciation pose big hurdles—especially until Starship proves fully operational.