SpaceX has announced Project Starmind, a network of high-performance satellites capable of processing artificial intelligence data directly in space using NVIDIA technologies.
SpaceX plans to launch its first satellites equipped with artificial intelligence infrastructure based on Nvidia chips in the fourth quarter of 2027, Bloomberg reported.
By 2028, the company plans to significantly expand its orbital data center project, having requested permission from US authorities to launch up to one million space-based devices.
On August 24, 2026, SpaceXAI announced the deployment of the NVIDIA Vera processor, designed specifically for AI clients. The Vera features 88 Olympus cores, spatial multithreading technology, and 1.2 TB/s of LPDDR5X memory. According to the manufacturer, the processor performs tasks up to 1.8 times faster than x86 processors in AI, reinforcement learning, and data processing scenarios. However, the company did not specify which processors it was compared to or the specific tests performed.
SpaceX has launched Project Starmind to create satellites that will serve as data centers supporting artificial intelligence. NVIDIA is a partner in the project, developing specialized computing units called AI1, equipped with the latest Vera processors and Rubin graphics accelerators.
Thanks to this platform, neural network data processing will be transferred directly from ground-based servers to space. Instead of transmitting heavy data streams to Earth, satellites will perform the calculations independently and then send the finished results to consumers via the Starlink system's laser.
Each AI1 device can support the operation of computing equipment with a power of 120 kW in normal mode, and up to 150 kW during peak times . The project's efficiency is achieved thanks to the spatial conditions, such as continuous access to solar energy and the use of open space for natural heat dissipation.
The dimensions of the AI1 platform far exceed those of the standard Starlink devices. When its structures are unfolded, the satellite reaches a height of about 20 meters, and its wingspan is about 70 meters , making it one of the largest orbital objects in SpaceX's fleet.
In collaboration with NVIDIA, SpaceX is designing a specialized computing unit. NVIDIA is currently promoting the space computing sector by adapting its high-performance platforms to the stringent mass, size, and power requirements necessary for off-Earth operations.
SpaceX plans to make these satellites the foundation for a new artificial intelligence infrastructure . This approach avoids the power limitations and cooling challenges that characterize terrestrial data centers.
