Elon Musk and SpaceX have announced their intention to launch up to a million satellites to create orbital data centres, which, according to Musk, is the first step towards achieving a Type II civilisation on the Kardashev scale. This concept, proposed by the Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev in the 1960s, classifies civilisations according to their level of energy use. Experts acknowledge that Musk’s idea is ambitious, but its implementation faces numerous technical and environmental challenges, and the transition to Type II itself remains a matter of debate.
Briefly about the main points
- SpaceX has submitted a request to launch up to a million satellites for space-based data centres.
- Musk describes this as the first step towards a Type II civilisation according to the Kardashev scale.
- The Kardashev scale classifies civilisations according to their level of energy use.
- Experts doubt whether a complete transition to Type II is realistic.
- Research shows that humanity has not yet even reached Type I.
SpaceX’s plans: a million satellites and orbital data centres
In 2024 SpaceX has submitted an application to the US Federal Communications Commission seeking permission to launch up to one million new satellites. The aim is to create data centres in orbit, which will enable computing power to be located beyond Earth.
Elon Musk in a video message and a statement on the company’s website, he said This project is the first step towards a Type II civilisation on the Kardashev scale. He believes that the use of space-based energy and infrastructure could mark the next stage in humanity’s development, although experts stress that this is only an initial attempt.
What is the Kardashev scale, and where does humanity stand on it?
The Kardashev scale, proposed by a Soviet astronomer Mykola Kardashov in 1964, classifies civilisations according to the amount of energy they can utilise. Type I involves the full utilisation of a planet’s energy, Type II that of a star, and Type III that of an entire galaxy.
An American astronomer Carl Sagan In the 1970s, he proposed a refinement: humanity was then at a level of approximately 0.7 on the scale. Recent studies estimate humanity’s current level at 0.7276, with a forecast that it will reach 0.7449 by 2060. The transition to Type I could take millennia without any technological breakthroughs.
Technical and environmental challenges of the transition to Type II
According to experts, even the launch of a million satellites is merely the first step. A complete transition to Type II would require harnessing the energy of the entire Solar System, which would call for materials whose total mass exceeds that of all the asteroids in the asteroid belt.
Some academics, such as Philip Metzger, believe that the development of industry in space — for example, the construction of factories on the Moon — is a more realistic approach than attempts to utilise all of Earth’s energy. At the same time, such projects do not yet have political support.
The search for extraterrestrial civilisations and the Dyson sphere
The Kardashev scale has formed the basis for the search for extraterrestrial civilisations, particularly through the concept of the Dyson sphere — a hypothetical structure designed to harvest a star’s energy. A 2024 study of 5 million stars identified seven candidates for such structures, but their rarity suggests that Type II civilisations are either unique or extremely difficult to achieve.
Scientists point out that these candidates may be false positives, and research is ongoing. The search for infrared radiation from such objects may help in the detection of highly advanced civilisations, although there is as yet no confirmed evidence.
Will space-based data centres change the approach to energy?
Data centre locations Space-based computing could be the answer to the growing demand for computing power and the limited resources available on Earth. In particular, it could ease the strain on the planet’s energy and water infrastructure.
However, experts emphasise that even such large-scale projects do not guarantee a rapid transition to a new type of civilisation. Energy efficiency, technological development and the advancement of information systems may prove more important than simply the total volume of energy consumed.
