Inside SpaceX’s Orbital Economy: AI Data Centers And Wireless Power

BreakingInnovationScienceInside SpaceX’s Orbital Economy: AI Data Centers And Wireless PowerByJamie Carter,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky.Follow AuthorJun 11, 2026, 03:34am EDTToplineFor some, SpaceX’s initial public offering (IPO) of shares on the Nasdaq stock index this week appears to be all about rockets. After all, the company has built its reputation launching satellites on its reusable Falcon 9 rockets, shuttling crew and cargo to and from the International Space Station and developing Starship, the largest rocket ever flown. If Starship succeeds in driving launch costs dramatically lower, the next question is what gets built in orbit.From Starlink broadband and orbital data centers to space-based solar power, here’s what a $2 trillion SpaceX might actually build.gettyKey FactsStarship is designed to carry more than 100 tonnes to low Earth orbit, according to SpaceX, and could dramatically reduce launch costs if fully reusable operations are achieved.The global space economy is forecast to grow from about $630 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2035, according to the World Economic Forum. That’s about twice the rate of global GDP growth.The company is formally known as Space Exploration Technologies Corporation and will list under the symbol SPCX on the Nasdaq stock index. Shares will sell for $135 each. if (!window.cnxel) { window.cnxel = {}; window.cnxel.cmd = []; var iframe = document.createElement('iframe'); iframe.style.display = 'none'; iframe.onload = function() { var iframeDoc = iframe.contentWindow.document; var script = iframeDoc.createElement('script'); script.src = '//cd.elements.video/player.js?cid=62cec241-7d09-4462-afc2-f72f8d8ef40a'; script.setAttribute('defer', '1'); script.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); iframeDoc.body.appendChild(script); }; document.head.appendChild(iframe); const preloadResourcesEndpoint...