Elon Musk's orbital AI network could send a new kind of e-waste beyond Earth's reach

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is floating an “AI1” concept that would put up to 1 million satellites into orbit as AI computing data centers, effectively creating a new class of space-based electronics. A key concern is what happens to the hardware when it reaches end of life, since it could move beyond Earth’s normal recycling routes. A May 29 FCC filing cited by Ars Technica suggests that if GPUs last about five years, roughly 200,000 satellites could be retired each year. Ars estimated about 40,000 would burn up after reentry, while the rest could be shifted to a more distant disposal orbit, taking valuable materials out of Earth’s cycle.