Google's TPUs to catch some rays in orbit next week
Part of Project Suncatcher, the proof of concept aims to see how well lightly modified compute fares in orbit
Google plans to launch its tensor processing units (TPUs) into orbit aboard a SpaceX rocket next week as part of its Project Suncatcher space datacenter initiative. The test mission aims to determine how its homegrown compute platform can endure the launch's extreme forces and the harsh environment of space. While long term, Google believes solar-powered space-based datacenter clusters could provide sustainable AI solutions, not everyone shares this optimism.
Project Suncatcher is being treated as a moonshot, similar to Google's previous innovative attempts, but remains in the early stages of development. The challenges include surviving launch forces, solar activity, cosmic rays, cooling, and high-speed interconnects once the TPUs are in orbit. Google is testing its existing Trillium accelerators on Earth to understand if they can handle the harsh conditions.
Despite the uncertainties, Google remains committed to the ambitious project, which could eventually involve dozens of TPUs packed into each satellite.
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- Google's TPUs to catch some rays in orbit next week theregister.com
