Google has launched a refrigerator-sized satellite carrying four Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) to test artificial intelligence computing in space.
The satellite is part of Project Suncatcher, Google’s research effort to explore the possibility of running AI systems in orbit. It will run a version of Google’s Gemma AI model for around 15 minutes at a time due to heat limitations.
The company will also examine how its chips withstand launch stress, radiation and extreme temperatures while operating in orbit. The prototype was developed with satellite company Planet and launched aboard a SpaceX rocket.
Google Explores Orbital AI Data Centers
Google eventually wants to create satellite clusters that operate as orbital data centers powered by solar energy. Future satellites could carry dozens of TPUs and communicate with one another and Earth through laser connections.
The company plans to launch two additional satellites next year to test these communication links. The current prototype is expected to operate for approximately one year.
However, several technical challenges remain before orbital data centers could become practical. Cooling is a major concern because conventional air- and water-based systems cannot operate normally in space.
Cooling And Costs Pose Major Challenges
Google is testing pipes and radiators to remove heat generated by the computing hardware. Repairs would also be considerably more difficult than at traditional data centers, while launching equipment into orbit remains expensive.
The company has said space-based data centers are unlikely to become cheaper than terrestrial facilities within the next five years. Meanwhile, other companies are exploring similar concepts, including Starcloud, which previously launched an Nvidia H100 chip into space.
SpaceX has also indicated that it could begin deploying orbital AI computing satellites as early as 2028. Google, however, describes Project Suncatcher as a long-term “moonshot” rather than an immediate replacement for Earth-based data centers.
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