Media: Musk envisions electromagnetic launch AI satellite from the Moon

According to reports from multiple media outlets on the 23rd, to facilitate the deployment of dedicated satellite networks for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, envisions launching satellites from the Moon into Earth’s orbit using electromagnetic catapults.

According to France’s Future Science website, Musk plans to build a giant electromagnetic launch device and a satellite assembly plant on the Moon, with the former launching satellites into Earth’s orbit.

Recently, SpaceX submitted an application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy a system of up to one million satellites in low Earth orbit, creating an on-orbit data center network to support high-performance computing needs such as AI.

The Future Science report suggests that, in theory, Musk’s idea of launching satellites from the Moon is not without merit. The Moon’s low gravity, lack of atmosphere, and abundant solar energy could make launches far more efficient than from Earth. Deploying large satellite constellations would also be easier and could avoid the crowded near-Earth space filled with spacecraft and debris.

However, in reality, realizing this idea is extremely challenging. The report analyzes that first, the launch device would need to be several kilometers long, and the acceleration process must be gentle enough to prevent damage to the satellites during launch. Second, the energy required for each launch would be enormous, with significant power demands.

Moreover, before building an electromagnetic launch device on the Moon, a permanent base must be established, requiring the transportation of large amounts of equipment. Humanity has never built such large-scale facilities outside of Earth.

Recently, Musk stated at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that deploying AI data centers in space could be achieved within “two or three years.” However, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, cast doubt on this idea. In an interview with the Indian Express, he said that while space-based AI data centers are feasible in the long term, it is unlikely within the next decade due to high launch costs and operational and maintenance difficulties.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)