• SpaceX wants to add 10GW of data center capacity during 2027
• Analysts believe Musk's aggressive construction schedule could become reality
• Colossus 2 is already demonstrating the scale of SpaceX's ambitions

SpaceX claims it could add an extraordinary amount of artificial intelligence computing capacity within the next 18 months, potentially matching Google's cumulative development over decades.

Elon Musk believes his company can install 10 gigawatts of additional data center capacity in 2027, an ambition that has attracted skepticism.

However, analysts believe the proposed expansion is achievable, citing construction progress, internal manufacturing capabilities, and access to dedicated power generation equipment.

SpaceX's construction pace could change the data center race

According to SemiAnalysis, SpaceX could increase its computing infrastructure from approximately 3GW to more than 10GW through developments planned across several locations.

If achieved, that expansion would represent approximately 10GW of additional capacity within 18 months, matching what Google accumulated throughout its entire existence.

The analysts point to the rapid development of Colossus 1 and Colossus 2 as evidence that Musk's ambitious construction schedule remains achievable.

Colossus 2 offers a particularly important example, with its electricity generation capacity reportedly increasing from 0.4GW in January toward 2.4GW by December.

The facility reportedly includes 89 gas turbines capable of generating approximately 2.5GW, alongside 1,377 Tesla Megapack battery systems installed across the property.

However, environmental restrictions will eventually limit the permitted output from those turbines to approximately 1.24GW, creating additional requirements for electricity supply.

The facility is also expected to receive approximately 1.2GW from the electricity grid, although analysts estimate another 300MW remains necessary.

Battery storage could help address that difference by supplying additional electricity when demand fluctuates, alongside possible contributions from external power sources.

SpaceX reportedly has temporary permission from Mississippi authorities to operate additional turbines, provided the company phases them out by July 2027.

Tesla's manufacturing capabilities could give SpaceX an advantage

One factor potentially accelerating construction is SpaceX's relationship with Tesla, which could provide access to manufacturing capabilities and electrical infrastructure components.

SemiAnalysis suggests Tesla may be producing modular mechanical and electrical equipment, allowing installation teams to deploy completed systems without waiting for conventional suppliers.

Such an arrangement could reduce procurement delays affecting competing developers, particularly when specialized power equipment and other essential infrastructure remain difficult to obtain.

The analysts also identified approximately 9GW of potential computing capacity across the facilities included in their assessment of SpaceX's development pipeline.

Musk previously stated that Colossus 2 already operated 550,000 GPUs as of September 25, although the exact distribution across individual buildings remains uncertain.

Other developments, including Gun Range and Project SPAM, also appear to be advancing, with aerial photographs showing substantial construction activity.

Nevertheless, completed buildings do not automatically translate into operational computing capacity, particularly when electrical connections, cooling systems and server installations remain outstanding.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella previously explained this problem, saying, “You may actually have a bunch of chips sitting in inventory that I can’t plug in. In fact, that is my problem today.”

SpaceX must also secure sufficient GPUs, memory components and power generation equipment before its ambitious deployment schedule can become reality.

Even with substantial manufacturing resources, regulatory restrictions, construction materials and local opposition could complicate expansion across multiple locations.

Via Tom's Hardware

• Google global head of data center energy says space data centers could cost up to 100 times more than terrestrial ones
• Amanda Peterson Corio's remarks came weeks after Google launched its first Suncatcher prototype, a roughly 1kW satellite that has since run Gemma 4 on an orbiting TPU, one chip at a time
• Corio says the real bottleneck on Earth is permitting rather than power, the same politics that backers of orbital compute claim they can escape

Google has spent the past month showing off AI chips working in orbit, but the executive responsible for powering its data centers back on Earth has just put a sobering price on the idea.

Speaking at The Information's recent WTF Summit in Napa Valley, Amanda Peterson Corio, Google's global head of data center energy, said data centers in space could cost up to 100 times as much as those built on the ground.

Her advice to the rest of the industry was simple and (pun intended) grounded: "Let's explore all the terrestrial options before we go extraterrestrial."

A very expensive proposition?

The remarks land at an awkward moment, because Google is testing exactly this kind of hardware right now. Its first Project Suncatcher prototype, built with satellite operator Planet, launched on SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare mission on October 1.

Google recently also announced its Hello World milestone: an onboard Gemma 4 model, running on a TPU, wrote a short haiku about being in space, which was downlinked as the satellite passed over Svalbard, Norway.

The company bills this as the first AI response from a data center-class TPU in orbit. That is a carefully measured claim, given that Starcloud put an Nvidia H100 into orbit a year ago and was running AI models on it within weeks.

Scale is the bigger caveat and one that can be easily overlooked amidst the hype: The satellite carries four TPUs but generates only about 1kW of solar power, so it can run just one chip at a time for roughly 20 minutes per session, according to The Next Web. A single 1 GW AI campus, the kind now under construction on the ground, draws about a million times that much power.

Google has described Suncatcher as a "moonshot" since it was unveiled a year ago, and project lead Travis Beals told NPR on launch day that he did not expect orbital compute to become cheaper than the terrestrial kind within the next five years.

Not the first or last skeptic of orbital datacenters

This did start a somewhat interesting conversation on Wall Street; Short seller Jim Chanos read Corio's statement as $5 trillion per gigawatt of compute, and posted on X that the gap between her view and the estimates of SpaceX management and bulls "should give pause to anyone trying to model this business out."

TIKR pushed the arithmetic further by examining recent claims: SpaceX's CFO told investors last month that new compute pays for itself in under a year at current rental rates. Built in orbit at up to 100 times the cost and rented at the same price, TIKR calculated that payback stretches to as long as a century, or about a decade even at a tenth of Corio's stated ceiling.

That matters because orbital compute underpins part of SpaceX's roughly $1.8 trillion market value at the time of writing. The company has asked the FCC for permission to launch up to a million data-center satellites, and Musk has posted that the orbital compute SpaceX deploys each month will probably overtake terrestrial compute around the end of 2028. Yet SpaceX's own IPO paperwork warned investors of "significant technical complexity and unproven technologies," and said its orbital data centers might never become commercially viable.

Corio is hardly the first skeptic. OpenAI's Sam Altman called the idea "ridiculous" under current conditions earlier this year, even as Nvidia lined up a Space-1 Vera Rubin module aimed squarely at orbital data centers.

This is an extremely interesting take from Google's end. Alphabet is one of SpaceX's largest outside shareholders, with a stake disclosed at 6.11% at the end of 2025, according to Bloomberg, and Google has reportedly been in talks with SpaceX about launching future Suncatcher hardware. Its energy chief has questioned and potentially poured cold water on a thesis that props up part of an asset Alphabet owns, while Google's own moonshot depends on cheap SpaceX launches arriving on schedule.

Corio's broader argument, somewhat ironically, was about the ground rather than the sky. According to The Information, she said the US has enough power and that the real bottlenecks are permitting and grid interconnection studies.

She blamed much of the local backlash against data centers on newer, less experienced developers, without naming any, and said Google prepays for grid upgrades over 15 to 20 years in more than 9 states, posts restoration bonds, and has stopped using nondisclosure agreements with local governments.

There is, however, a problem with this argument: Established firms such as Oracle have also faced local resistance, which complicates the idea that inexperienced newcomers are the problem. The backlash is anything but marginal: opposition has spread across the US, and Data Center Watch counted 75 projects worth about $130 billion delayed or blocked in the first quarter of 2026 alone.

There is a political angle built around these arguments that keeps orbital data centers in play, and SpaceX is essentially building on that promise. After this week's midterm elections, in which data center construction was a campaign issue in several races, including the contest for Texas governor, Musk posted, "Data centers in space looking pretty appealing right now."

Leaving the planet does not, however, mean leaving the permit queue; SpaceX's million-satellite request and Blue Origin's 51,600-satellite Project Sunrise both need FCC approval, and debris and spectrum concerns give regulators and rivals plenty to object to, just at a higher altitude. If power really is plentiful and permission is the bottleneck, as Corio argues, then orbit's main selling point is jumping that queue, and by her numbers it is a very expensive way to do it.

For now, until someone flies more than a kilowatt-scale test bed and publishes what it actually costs, the multiple between orbit and the ground, whether it turns out to be 3x, 10x, or as much as 100x, remains an educated guess. Corio's stated ceiling is arguably as unproven as Musk's timetable. Only one of those numbers, however, is already priced in considerably into a stock's current valuation, and SpaceX investors will be waiting for financials to back its CEO's claims with bated breath to say the least.

• Disney Accelerator is exploring new roles for robots across Disney's amusement parks
• Field AI is testing Cars-inspired autonomous robots to help guests park
• Physical Intelligence is exploring robots that sort and organize 3D glasses

Picture this: The next time you're pulling into one of the many parking lots at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, or Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, you might not need to go hunting for a parking spot. Instead, you're greeted by a car that looks like it drove straight out of Pixar's Cars.

The car is decked out in a bright orange paint job with a yellow safety vest and marshaling wands, with a screen on top displaying directional arrows telling you where to turn and park. It even offers a friendly wink as you start to make the turn.

Then, as you approach the end of your spot, another little vehicle rolls up alongside you, its screen flashing 'slow,' then a thumbs up, and finally 'have a nice day.' It's a pretty magical way to be welcomed to a Disney park before you've even stepped inside, right?

And it might not be as far off as you think. As part of Disney Accelerator 2026, Disney is collaborating with Field AI to test autonomous robots in parking lots and explore how they could help with park operations.

Field AI essentially develops the intelligence — or the brain — behind robots, rather than the robotic hardware itself. The company has experience deploying autonomous solutions in engineering environments, and Disney is now exploring how that technology could translate to its theme parks.

It’s essentially the intelligence that comes in the form of hardware and software as a kit that goes on top of the robot. In the video, it’s clear that the Cars figure is the end goal, but we do see what appears to be a Boston Dynamics robot with the Field AI stack on top, offering the screen and directional movement guidance for a few brief moments.

Gary Daniels, SVP of Technology at Disney Experiences, said: "We're excited to be working with Field AI, testing autonomous robots' ability to guide cars to park. Imagine if characters from Cars or robots from Wall-E direct you where to park when you arrive. The work we're doing now is a great way to see how robots function and, as important, how people respond."

It's clearly a test for now, but seeing Field AI's intelligence solution in action in the demonstration videos is pretty compelling. Particularly when you consider how it could pair with Disney Imagineering's existing research and development work in robotics.

Think about the robotic Star Wars BDX Droids, Olaf from Frozen, or even the walking Groot. Disney has already been exploring how to bring familiar characters into the physical world. Now, there's an opportunity to take some of those robotics advances beyond entertainment and into the everyday guest experience — while also helping with operational challenges like parking management and moving guests around the parks. The latter is something Disney Experiences knows a lot about, and a car from Cars or a robot from Wall-E would fit right in.

Of course, it's still early days, and these experiments are just that: explorations. But Disney Accelerator participants have found their way into the parks before.

Haddy, part of the 2025 group, develops large-scale 3D printing technology that produces materials and components to match the quality Imagineering requires. Its work was used to create an entirely new boat for Jungle Cruise at Disneyland in 2025. I wouldn't be surprised to see Haddy's technology featured in future projects, potentially including new environments like the forthcoming Monstropolis land at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Robots could also help behind the scenes

The parking experiment is perhaps the most immediately exciting from a guest perspective, but another Disney Accelerator 2026 participant is exploring a robotic application that could have just as much impact behind the scenes.

Physical Intelligence is working on a tool that could greatly benefit Cast Members. Attractions like Star Tours, Toy Story Midway Mania, and Mickey's PhilharMagic — found at Disney parks in the United States and elsewhere around the world — use 3D glasses that guests pick up and wear during the attraction before returning them afterward.

Guests, myself included, don't always think twice about dropping those glasses back into a collection bin. But someone has to sort through them, untangle them, and make sure they're in good shape for the next guest.

That's where Physical Intelligence comes in. The exploration takes shape as a robot that can sort and organize the glasses, potentially untangling them and stacking them for redistribution. It's not necessarily an easy task for a robot to handle. It requires dexterity, precision, and the ability to apply varying amounts of force depending on what it's handling.

Physical Intelligence already trains robots to carry out everyday tasks, including folding shirts, cutting vegetables, and folding boxes. Teaching a robot to handle Disney's 3D glasses is another step toward getting these machines to carry out more complicated physical tasks.

The company explained that training robots to perform basic functions, while pairing that training with the right inputs — such as sight through a camera and touch through sensors — is key. For the glasses-sorting experiment, the robot is taught how to carry out the task through demonstrations and training, allowing it to learn how to handle and stack the glasses. It’s also been deployed in parks in some test use cases.

There's an interesting parallel here with the reinforcement training Disney worked on alongside Google DeepMind and Nvidia for its BDX Droids. While the applications are different, both demonstrate how extensive training and the right combination of inputs can help robots interact with the physical world in increasingly sophisticated ways. Here it’s clear, though, that real hands-on — err, robotic arms — training was needed versus simulation.

And there's an important distinction in how this could benefit Disney's workforce. The goal isn't necessarily to replace a Cast Member or eliminate a role. Instead, automating a repetitive task like sorting glasses could free someone up to spend more time interacting with guests, thus creating those little moments that make a Disney visit special.

Disney's robotic ambitions go beyond bringing characters to life

Both Physical Intelligence's glasses-sorting experiment and Field AI's autonomous parking guidance show that Disney's robotic ambitions, with the right partners, go well beyond bringing characters to life. One could help make arriving at a park more seamless and perhaps a little more magical, while the other could make some of the less glamorous work of running a theme park easier.

Even so, the learnings from these two use cases and prototypes could eventually find their way into future roaming characters in the parks or even on Disney Cruise Line ships.

And while the BDX Droids aren't greeting guests daily in the parks just yet, and Olaf has taken a few tumbles along the way, Disney has a much bigger vision for where this technology could go.

Kyle Laughlin, SVP of R&D, Technology and Engineering at Walt Disney Imagineering, previously told us: "We don't envision just one robot from a franchise, but an entire world populated with characters you know and love."

Maybe that world starts with a robot directing you into a parking spot.

• Putin orders private data centres to reserve 10% of their capacity for state use
• State authorities can request reserved computing resources with 24 hours' notice
• Private operators retain ownership while the government gains access to reserved capacity

Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed privately operated data centres to make part of their computing resources available for government information systems.

The measure requires affected facilities to set aside 10% of their capacity, giving authorities access when state digital services require additional computing resources.

According to Russian media outlet Astra, the directive appeared on the country's official legal information website on November 2 2026, introducing a strict implementation deadline.

Moscow tightens controls

Operators have been given 10 days to meet the new requirement, although they can continue using the reserved resources during ordinary business operations.

A special government subcommission will determine when the state can demand access, with facilities required to provide the requested resources within 24 hours.

The arrangement does not amount to an outright transfer of ownership, since companies retain control over their facilities and continue operating their businesses.

However, the government gains authority to requisition part of their available computing resources when designated Russian information services require additional infrastructure.

The decree specifies that companies will receive payment for providing access, with the government body responsible for establishing a ceiling on applicable charges.

Officials must also establish procedures governing allocation decisions, including the creation of the subcommission responsible for administering access requests.

The government has assigned the Ministry of Digital Development responsibility for overseeing the country's data centre capacity.

The ministry will assess available floor space and computing resources across domestic facilities and establish operational standards to ensure reliable and uninterrupted services.

The directive arrives amid continuing pressure on Russian digital infrastructure, including Ukrainian attacks against facilities supporting important domestic internet services.

In October 2026, Ukrainian strikes hit three Yandex data centres inside Russia, disrupting cloud platforms, stored information, database services and other online operations.

The attacks followed Russian assaults against essential Ukrainian infrastructure, forming part of the continuing conflict between the two countries.

Foreign infrastructure remains possible under security restrictions

Despite requiring greater domestic capacity for government systems, the decree allows Russian information services to temporarily operate using computing resources located abroad.

Such arrangements require approval from the Federal Security Service, commonly known as the FSB, giving security officials authority over exceptions.

This provision means the new requirement does not completely exclude foreign facilities, although their use remains subject to government security approval.

Russia has separately explored cooperation with American interests involving large computing facilities, including discussions about potential infrastructure projects between the countries.

On October 16, Kremlin representative Kirill Dmitriev said Moscow and Washington were discussing joint data infrastructure proposals involving possible Russian nuclear energy supplies.

The discussions reportedly include using electricity generated by Russian nuclear facilities to support computing infrastructure.

Via United24Media

• Ukraine is exploring satellite communications it can eventually control independently
• A SpaceX service disruption exposed Ukraine's dependence on commercial satellite links
• Himera and GomSpace have begun testing Obria Nano in orbit

Ukraine is moving to reduce its reliance on foreign satellite communications by testing technology intended for a future network under national control.

The new initiative brings together Ukrainian defence technology company Himera and Danish spacecraft manufacturer GomSpace, which have developed an experimental satellite called Obria Nano.

The announcement follows recent interruptions affecting SpaceX services used by Ukrainian forces, exposing the risks of depending heavily on one communications provider.

Ukraine seeks greater control over military communications

Since the war in Ukraine began in 2022, Starlink has become an important communications channel for Ukrainian military units operating across the country.

Its connectivity supports battlefield coordination, drone missions and communications in locations where Russian attacks have damaged or interrupted conventional telecommunications infrastructure.

The importance of satellite links became particularly apparent after restrictions introduced in mid-October disrupted Ukrainian connectivity and interfered with operations involving military drones.

Ukraine announced on October 24 2026 that Starlink and Starshield connections had returned to normal speeds following the disruption.

However, disagreement emerged over who had approved the restrictions, with SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk and American officials giving different accounts.

The disruption encouraged Kyiv to explore satellite infrastructure that it can control rather than depend entirely on external services.

At this stage, Obria Nano remains an experimental spacecraft intended to support the development of a Ukrainian communications constellation.

“For us, this project is about more than launching a satellite. It is an opportunity to lay the foundation for an independent communications network for Ukraine,” said Misha Rudominski, Himera's co-founder and chief executive

Obria Nano begins orbital testing as constellation plans develop

The companies said their Obria Nano spacecraft entered orbit after travelling aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare mission on October 1.

Himera and GomSpace announced on October 27 that testing was underway, with results expected to guide the design of additional satellites.

They intend to develop a constellation capable of providing communications coverage across Ukraine.

Himera and GomSpace also envisage eventually producing spacecraft and ground terminals within Ukraine.

GomSpace, based in Denmark, supplies small spacecraft, communications payloads and satellite components, while Himera contributes experience developing military radio equipment.

Neither company has released Obria Nano's technical specifications, communications capacity, financing arrangements or the proposed number of spacecraft required for the planned network.

This system will probably not replace Starlink, whose existing network provides broader geographic coverage and established operational capacity.

Instead, a smaller Ukrainian constellation could supply dedicated links for selected defence activities while leaving commercial satellite services available for additional communications requirements.

Rudominski said the initial orbital work would help establish the technical capabilities needed for greater national control over communications infrastructure.

“We are starting by testing technologies in orbit, while our long-term goal is to develop capabilities that will strengthen the country’s strategic security and reduce dependence on external communications providers,” he said.

Via Spacenews

• Huawei's new router replaces conventional styling with a book-inspired enclosure
• The Router X2 Pro supports Wi-Fi 7+ wireless networking technology
• Magnetic covers allow users to customize the router's external appearance

Huawei has introduced the Router X2 Pro, a wireless networking device with a book-inspired design that departs from conventional router appearances.

The new model combines Wi-Fi 7+ technology with mesh Wi-Fi and a decorative enclosure, allowing it to function as part of a home's interior rather than simply networking equipment.

It also supports interchangeable magnetic covers, four integrated Wi-Fi antennas and several networking technologies intended to improve wireless performance.

A router designed to look like a book

Unlike routers built around exposed antennas and angular plastic housings, Huawei's latest model uses a rectangular enclosure resembling a closed book.

Its measurements are 191.7 × 51.1 × 141.1mm, while the complete unit weighs 475g, making it relatively compact for household placement.

A magnetic panel fitted along the side can also be replaced with alternative covers, including customised designs produced via three-dimensional printing.

These decorative designs feature pandas, cats, dogs and penguins, but there is no confirmation that they come with the device.

The Router X2 Pro uses four integrated Wi-Fi antennas, alongside dedicated components supporting smart antenna functions, Bluetooth and Strobe connectivity.

A separate indicator communicates the system's operating condition and Mesh networking status, providing a visible reference for the router's current state.

Connectivity features, smart networking and pricing

This Wi-Fi router uses Huawei's Lingxiao 760 series chipset alongside four high-performance signal amplifiers designed to strengthen wireless signal transmission.

It also includes dynamic narrowband technology, which improves transmission speeds and signal penetration and reduces lag by up to 80%.

These technologies help to maintain reception when signals must pass through several walls and other obstacles.

In addition, the Router X2 Pro supports NearLink technology, which improves network stability by 50%.

According to Huawei, the hardware and software combination reduces compatibility losses and supports faster video loading, responsive gaming and consistent connections.

The router supports wired connections and wireless Mesh arrangements, allowing households to select an installation method suited to their existing network.

Its AI Mesh system can analyse an uploaded home floor plan through Huawei's Smart Life application and recommend suitable equipment placement.

Additional Mesh Lights allow users to inspect connection strength, while automatic roaming manages movement between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands.

The system monitors reception conditions and switches between available bands, while NearLink, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi provide three supported connection methods.

A unit of this device sells at 588 yuan (~ $88), while customers seeking two units can purchase the combined package for 1,108 yuan (~ $166).

The decorative casing option costs 99 yuan (~ $15), although the announcement does not clarify whether every customised cover carries that price.

The available finishes include Earthy Brown, Oak White, Stone Gray and Spruce Green, giving buyers several options for matching different interior arrangements.

Via Huawei Central

• Researchers report on 3 huge 'perturbations' caused by Artemis II
• The rips in the ionosphere could affect GPS systems
• Further study is needed to assess the impact of the rocket launch

The April 2026 Artemis II mission marked the first time humans have been in lunar space since 1972, and scientists are still picking through the masses of data collected along the way. New research set to be published in Geophysical Research Letters has now revealed some unprecedented tears the rocket launch ripped in our upper atmosphere.

Known as the ionosphere, this layer is bombarded with solar radiation, causing it to be packed with free electrons and positively charged ions — a mix which means it has a strong influence on radio waves, such as signals sent by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellites, including the Global Positioning System (GPS).

The study team found that Artemis II triggered three separate disturbances in the ionosphere, all directly above North America, and measuring more than 5,000 kilometers (3,106 miles) in size. These pulse waves were caused by the initial rocket launch, and then by upper-stage orbital engines firing directly in the upper atmosphere.

It's a more powerful barrage of atmospheric disruption than we've seen from any previous rocket launch, including those launched by SpaceX, and it gives scientists important context on human-made 'space weather' — disturbances in the atmosphere that have the potential to interfere with ground infrastructure.

GPS disruption on the ground

While it's worth noting that this study didn't directly measure any disruption in GNSS or GPS systems — it's something the team hopes to follow up on later — the sort of disturbances recorded here have the potential to cause significant, if temporary, shifts in our navigation systems.

"A positioning error of a couple of meters is enough to cause an autonomous car to change lanes," study author and earth scientist Charles Lin, from National Cheng Kung University, in Taiwan, told Space.com. "It could have a strong impact not only on self-driving cars but also on drone positioning."

"Though space launches often induce ionosphere disturbances, the Artemis-II Lunar mission for the first time produced extremely rare reoccurring perturbations over the same geographic region on three different occasions," write the researchers, while also suggesting it "will be essential to assess" future impacts from rockets on the ionosphere.

The impact of the ionosphere disruptions on GPS and GNSS are what the researchers are planning to look at next, including to what degree errors might have been introduced, and how long they lasted for. The results are likely to be vital in planning future rocket launches and maneuvers.