Thursday 05 February 2026 09:29 GMT Bookmark Support Now From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Elon Musk has vowed to disrupt another industry, following his ventures in cars and rockets, by proposing an ambitious space-based data network. The world's wealthiest man plans to launch up to a million satellites into orbit, creating vast, solar-powered data centres. This initiative aims to support the expanded use of artificial intelligence and chatbots, preventing blackouts and soaring utility bills. To finance this colossal project, Musk merged SpaceX with his AI business on Monday, with plans for a significant initial public offering of the combined entity. “Space-based AI is obviously the only way to scale,” Musk wrote on SpaceX’s website Monday, adding about his solar ambitions, “It’s always sunny in space!” But scientists and industry experts say even Musk — who outsmarted Detroit to turn Tesla into the world’s most valuable automaker — faces formidable technical, financial and environmental obstacles. Here’s a look.