Can AI chips work better in space? Google sends four into orbit to find out

Google launched a prototype satellite carrying four Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) into orbit on Thursday to assess how the AI chips function in the unique conditions of space, according to Xinhua. The satellite, launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare mission, was confirmed to be in contact with Google's team and functioning as anticipated.

This marks the inaugural step of Google's ambitious Project Suncatcher, a long-term research endeavor in collaboration with Planet Labs PBC. The project aims to investigate the feasibility of hosting scalable machine learning infrastructure in space. Over the coming weeks, Google will gather valuable in-orbit data to understand how its TPUs endure the physical stress, radiation, and thermal extremes that space presents.

The insights gleaned from this data will be instrumental in refining future designs of these chips. In low Earth orbit, satellites bask in near-constant sunlight, generating up to eight times more solar power compared to what they receive on Earth. Google envisions a future where multiple satellite constellations could be interconnected, enabling them to tackle larger AI workloads in orbit collectively.