Blue Origin, founded by Amazon chair Jeff Bezos, has filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch a network of more than 50,000 satellites that will act as a data center in orbit. The project, known as ‘Project Sunrise,’ aims to ease pressure on U.S. communities and natural resources by shifting energy-intensive computation away from terrestrial data centers.

The filing does not detail the computing power of the proposed satellites but notes their intent to use another constellation called TeraWave for high-throughput communications. Shifting compute to space is attractive due to free solar energy and fewer regulatory restrictions, leading to visions of widespread AI tools with much inference work outsourced to orbit.

Several companies are pursuing similar ideas, including SpaceX’s proposed million-satellite network and the startup Starcloud’s 60,000-spacecraft proposition. Google is also developing a concept called Project Suncatcher for space data centers. The economics of these projects remain challenging due to the need for advanced cooling technology, laser communication, and radiation-resistant chips.

The cost to launch these computers into orbit is another hurdle, with most betting on SpaceX’s Starship rocket to reduce costs. Blue Origin may have an advantage as its New Glenn rocket is one of the most powerful operational launch vehicles on Earth. However, concerns about orbital congestion and the impact of satellite debris on the atmosphere persist.

Experts suggest it will be several more years until such projects are realized, with a likely timeline extending into the 2030s.