For the first time, Google is launching its own AI chips into Earth’s orbit. Using a prototype satellite, the company aims to test whether its Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), processors designed specifically for AI computations, can withstand the conditions of space.
The satellite will be launched as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission and was developed in collaboration with the satellite company Planet. The test is part of Project Suncatcher, Google’s research into scalable AI infrastructure in space.
The ultimate vision goes far beyond a single satellite. Google is investigating whether clusters of satellites, each equipped with dozens of TPUs, can be linked together via high-speed optical connections. In theory, this could create a data center in space.
Virtually continuous solar power
A key reason for looking to space is the availability of solar energy. Satellites in low Earth orbit can capture sunlight almost continuously. According to Google, solar panels there could generate up to eight times as much energy as on Earth. In addition, computing power in space could reduce the strain on Earth’s power grids.
Google is not alone in this endeavor. SpaceX and Starcloud are also planning data centers in low Earth orbit, according to Reuters. However, experts cited by the news agency say commercial application is still years away. High launch costs, technical limitations, and satellite production pose significant obstacles.
Google has pre-tested its TPUs for the intense vibrations and accelerations experienced during a launch. Trillium TPUs were also exposed to radiation at the Crocker Nuclear Laboratory at UC Davis while running AI workloads. According to Google, the chips can withstand more radiation than they would encounter during a five-year space mission.
Cooling without air
Another challenge is cooling. In the vacuum of space, there is no air to dissipate heat from the chips. Google is therefore experimenting with heat pipes and radiators. The technology has already been tested in a thermal vacuum chamber.
Future satellites must also communicate with each other quickly. Google plans to use laser links for this purpose. These must provide high bandwidth between satellites moving relative to one another.
In 2027, Google plans to launch two satellites to test such connections. Next week’s flight is not yet a demonstration of an operational data center. First, Google wants to determine how its AI hardware actually performs in space and where potential weaknesses lie.