Elon Musk reportedly plans to pursue an initial public offering for SpaceX, according to sources familiar with the matter. This move follows the company’s long-stated position against an IPO until establishing a presence on Mars. Sources indicated a target completion for the IPO by July, with SpaceX expected to select banking partners soon.
Insiders suggest the decision relates to Musk’s ambition to construct AI data centers in space. Google previously announced test launches for a space-based data center in 2027. SpaceX would require significant capital, which an IPO could provide, to fund such an endeavor.
The strategic shift also appears to support xAI, another company founded by Musk, which operates in a competitive AI landscape against firms like OpenAI and Google. A successful deployment of space-based data centers by SpaceX could offer xAI preferential access to infrastructure.
Our TPUs are headed to space!
Inspired by our history of moonshots, from quantum computing to autonomous driving, Project Suncatcher is exploring how we could one day build scalable ML compute systems in space, harnessing more of the sun’s power (which emits more power than 100… pic.twitter.com/aQhukBAMDp
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) November 4, 2025
Other technology companies have also explored orbital data centers. Blue Origin CEO Jeff Bezos has suggested the viability of shifting data centers to orbit. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has considered partnerships or acquisitions, including rocket manufacturer Stoke Space, for similar objectives.
Deploying data centers in space presents engineering challenges, including latency, heat dissipation, and radiation exposure. Components must be launched and assembled in orbit. The Wall Street Journal reported a SpaceX breakthrough in this area last year; however, specific details remain undisclosed. Terrestrial data centers, such as Microsoft’s 325-acre facility in Wisconsin and Meta’s structure approaching the size of Manhattan, consume substantial energy and water resources, impacting local environments, and generating pollution, offering limited long-term local employment.
