---
title: "A Million Satellites for AI: Musk's Ambitious Plan and the Threat of SpaceX's Collapse"
description: "🚀 Elon Musk wants to launch a million satellites for AI by 2028 — but experts warn of SpaceX's collapse due to the $2 trillion cost. 🌍 Space is not yet ready, and the lunar program is at risk. Will this be a brilliant move or a fatal mistake?"
date: 2026-05-31T21:20:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/elon-musk-million-satellites-ai-spacex-financial-risk
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# A Million Satellites for AI: Musk's Ambitious Plan and the Threat of SpaceX's Collapse

![Elon Musk in a MAGA cap shakes hands with Donald Trump, discussing the ambitious plan to launch a million satellites for AI](https://xab.info/media/2026/05/31/elon-musk-million-sputnikov-ai-spacex-financial-risk/elon-musk-million-sputnikov-ai-spacex-financial-risk-1.webp)

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, has announced a grand project: by 2028, to launch one million satellites into orbit that will serve as data processing centers for artificial intelligence. The goal is to provide AI computing power for billions of users worldwide. However, experts warn: implementing this plan could lead to the financial collapse of the company.

### The Astronomical Price of a Dream

Currently, SpaceX has already deployed a network of about 10,000 Starlink satellites. Each unit costs approximately $2 million. Scaling the system to one million units will require colossal investments — experts estimate the project budget at $2 trillion. This is a sum equal to the entire projected valuation of SpaceX after its IPO.

### Skeptics vs. the Visionary

Robert Zubrin, a well-known rocket designer and long-time acquaintance of Musk, calls the plan a "fantasy." In his opinion, launching an orbital constellation of one million satellites is technically and economically unrealistic. He warns: such a move could interrupt the businessman's successful streak.

The technical challenges are no less serious. Musk promises to launch a Starship vehicle every hour — that's 8,700 flights a year. Today, SpaceX carries out an average of three launches per week. Achieving such figures will require full reusability of the rocket, which is not yet guaranteed: recent tests ended in failure — the first stage fell into the ocean due to engine failure.

### Space or Earth?

Musk is confident: "Within 2–3 years, the cheapest way to generate AI computations will be space." But scientists from Google Project Suncatcher hold a different opinion. Their forecasts show that space stations will become competitive only by the mid-2030s. At the same time, launch costs must drop to $200 per kilogram — a level achievable only with perfect Starship reusability.

Brian Hurley from "New Space Economy" agrees with his colleagues: deploying such networks is realistic only decades away. One must account for maintenance costs, insurance, and risks. Space is not yet ready to accept such a volume of equipment.

### Why Right Now?

Experts suggest that Musk is using the hype around AI to create a buzz before the IPO of SpaceX and xAI. "He counts on people saying: 'Well, I don't know if it will work, but nobody has ever lost money betting on Elon Musk'," — summarizes one of the analysts.

### Threat to the Lunar Program

Musk's ambitions put even the lunar program at risk. Due to delays with Starship, NASA began looking for alternative contractors for landing astronauts. Musk's competitor — Jeff Bezos — also faced problems: the New Glenn rocket from Blue Origin exploded seconds after launch.

Meanwhile, NASA is actively building a base on the Moon's south pole, ordering landing modules, rovers, and drones. Ukraine may join the project — the agency is interested in engines from the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, although the country's participation has its nuances.