Musk Backs Page's Orbital Computing Prediction
Elon Musk endorsed Google co-founder Larry Page's forecast that nearly all computing will eventually move to orbit, as SpaceX leases AI infrastructure to Google.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Data Centers
Elon Musk publicly praised Larry Page's prediction that 99.999% of computing will eventually move to orbital locations. The comment came as SpaceX agreed to lease AI infrastructure to Google for $920 million a month over 32 months.
Why it matters
The exchange highlights a growing interest in moving data processing beyond Earth, a shift that could reshape how data centers are built and regulated. Martin Casado linked the possibility to hundreds of proposed U.S. bills restricting data center construction.
SpaceX will lease AI infrastructure to Google at $920 million a month for 32 months, a deal announced just ahead of SpaceX's IPO. The timeline and technical specifications of the orbital infrastructure were not disclosed.
The players
Elon Musk
Musk is the chief executive of SpaceX and Tesla, and he has publicly pursued ambitious goals in space exploration and artificial intelligence.
Larry Page
Page is a co-founder of Google and Alphabet, and he has long been associated with ambitious technology bets beyond Earth.
SpaceX
SpaceX is a private aerospace manufacturer and launch provider founded by Elon Musk, and Google holds a stake in the company.
Google is a technology company under Alphabet that operates some of the world's largest data center infrastructure.
The details
Musk responded to an X video in which investor Patrick O'Shaughnessy recounted Page's prediction that computing will eventually all be in space. Musk and Page's friendship reportedly soured in June 2015 at Musk's 44th birthday party, after a discussion about the dangers of artificial intelligence.
Timeline
June 2015: Musk and Page's friendship reportedly soured at Musk's 44th birthday party.
2015: Google invested $900 million in SpaceX.
2014: Page said in a TED interview that Musk's Mars ambitions are a form of philanthropy.
November 9, 2026: Musk commented on Page's orbital compute prediction.
The Tech Race
Martin Casado linked the possible shift of compute to space to hundreds of proposed U.S. bills restricting data center construction, suggesting regulatory pressure may push the industry toward orbit. The move would position SpaceX and Google ahead of rivals still reliant on terrestrial facilities.
For most users, orbital computing would not change daily services immediately, since the infrastructure remains a forecast rather than an active product. Any eventual shift could affect the cost and availability of cloud and AI services that depend on data center capacity.
The takeaway
Forecasts about where computing will run can move quickly from speculation to policy and investment decisions. Readers should watch how regulation of terrestrial data centers evolves, since it may influence where future capacity is built.
Further reading
Explore more on Data Centers to see how the industry is weighing terrestrial and orbital options.
