Elon Musk’s SpaceX has applied to US regulators for permission to launch up to one million satellites into low-Earth orbit to support artificial intelligence computing.

The application was filed on Friday with the Federal Communications Commission. It argues that so-called orbital data centers are the most cost and energy efficient way to meet rising global demand for AI processing power.

SpaceX said traditional data centers, which are large buildings filled with computers, are struggling to keep pace with the rapid expansion of AI use. It claimed that demand is already exceeding what land-based systems can provide.

If approved, the plan would dramatically expand SpaceX’s presence in orbit. The company currently operates nearly 10,000 Starlink satellites, which provide internet services worldwide.

The proposed satellites would be solar-powered and operate at altitudes between 500 and 2,000 kilometers. SpaceX did not provide a timeline for launching the network.

Astronomers have previously complained that radio signals from Starlink satellites interfere with scientific observations. SpaceX has said it is working to reduce such impacts.