FCC Public Notice DA 26-113 — Orbital Data Center Application Accepted
Summary
The FCC Space Bureau's February 4, 2026 Public Notice accepting for filing SpaceX's application (ICFS File No. SAT-LOA-20260108-00016) to launch up to one million orbital data center satellites. Filed by SpaceX January 30, 2026. The System will operate at altitudes from 500 km to 2,000 km, use high-bandwidth optical inter-satellite links, and request waivers of standard NGSO processing-round, milestone, and surety-bond rules. This filing is the regulatory anchor for the chip demand Musk cited when justifying Terafab — Terafab's orbital allocation only makes sense if this constellation is approved.
Key Excerpts
"By this Public Notice, the Space Bureau (Bureau) accepts for filing and seeks comment on an application by Space Exploration Holdings, LLC (SpaceX) for a new non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) system of up to one million satellites."
Why it matters: Confirms the FCC has formally accepted the Orbital Data Center application — the regulatory precondition for the space-based compute demand Terafab is designed to supply.
"This satellite system will represent the 'first step towards becoming a Kardashev II-level civilization — one that can harness the Sun's full power,' according to SpaceX."
Why it matters: SpaceX's own framing of the project's scale, quoted from its application narrative.
"The System will operate at altitudes ranging from 500 km to 2,000 km and in 30 degree and sun-synchronous orbit inclinations within orbital shells spanning up to 50 km each."
Why it matters: Establishes the orbital envelope and inclinations that constrain total achievable compute capacity and downlink bandwidth.