Elon Musk says SpaceX is expanding its Colossus 2 artificial intelligence computing complex in the Memphis area with two additional sites, named “Spam” and “Gun Range.” Gun Range is targeted to begin operating in late November, with Spam scheduled for December. The expansion is intended to add computing capacity for AI systems including Grok, while the project continues to face local opposition and litigation over permits for natural-gas turbines.
Two sites targeted to open by year-end
Musk said on X that he inspected the Colossus 2 site shortly before midnight and again the following morning. He described construction work by SpaceX staff and contractors as progressing well. His timeline puts Gun Range’s opening in late November and Spam’s in December.
Musk said the Spam site was previously used to store Hormel products, potentially including Spam luncheon meat. Gun Range was formerly owned by a local police department. No further public details were provided on the sites’ size, equipment or added computing capacity.
Colossus expansion supports demand for Grok computing
Training and running AI models requires substantial computing resources. Musk began building the Colossus supercomputer in Memphis in 2024; xAI later expanded it into Colossus 2 to provide more capacity for its chatbot, Grok. Construction at the Colossus 2 campus began last year.
SpaceX acquired xAI, and the two new sites are part of the continuing expansion of Colossus 2. For AI companies, the pace at which computing facilities come online and the capacity they provide can affect model development and service operations. Power supply, environmental concerns and relations with nearby communities are also practical considerations for large data-center projects.
Community opposition and turbine lawsuit continue
Colossus and Colossus 2 have drawn scrutiny from residents around Memphis. Local opponents have attended public hearings, held protests and organized petitions against the developments.
In April, the NAACP sued xAI and its subsidiary MZX Tech, alleging that the companies operated methane gas turbines without permits in Southaven, Mississippi, to supply power to Colossus 2. Southaven is less than a 20-minute drive from Memphis. Last week, a US federal district judge denied a motion by xAI and MZX Tech to dismiss the lawsuit. The case will proceed; the ruling did not make a final determination on the allegations.
Musk’s schedule targets openings for the two additional sites in late November and December. Alongside construction progress, turbine-permit questions and concerns raised by nearby communities remain outstanding issues for Colossus 2.