Google’s first AI data center in space is up and running
Google’s first experimental data center satellite as part of the Suncatcher project is now operational. The satellite was launched in October , and after several weeks of testing, it has begun communicating with Earth. On board are four of Google’s AI chips, Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), which are used to run AI models. The satellite can generate up to one kilowatt of electricity, which is…
Google has successfully launched its first experimental data center satellite as part of the Suncatcher project. After several weeks of testing, the satellite began communicating with Earth. The satellite houses four of Google's AI chips, Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), which are utilized to operate AI models. Each chip can generate up to a kilowatt of electricity, sufficient to keep an AI chip operational for around 20 minutes.
During an initial test, Google's AI model Gemma 4 from Google DeepMind was given the task of composing a haiku about life in space. The satellite has also provided data regarding conditions in its orbit. Google plans to further evaluate how the chip responds to the extreme temperatures and radiation present in space. If successful, the company intends to launch two additional satellites in 2027.
The ultimate objective is to establish a network of satellites capable of executing sophisticated AI computations.
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