Global
In a notable stride towards expanding cloud computing horizons beyond Earth's atmosphere, Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, is preparing to launch a prototype satellite next week. This launch marks the first orbital test for its "Sun Catcher" project, an ambitious research initiative aimed at exploring the feasibility of hosting large-scale artificial intelligence computing infrastructure in space. This endeavor aligns with a growing interest among global companies, including SpaceX and Star Cloud, which are pursuing plans to deploy data centers in low Earth orbit. The objective is to leverage near-constant sunlight to power the energy-intensive computing required for AI applications, thereby circumventing the limitations of terrestrial electricity supplies. The upcoming mission, scheduled as part of SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare flight in partnership with satellite company Planet Labs, will assess the ability of Google's developed AI hardware to withstand the harsh forces of launch, radiation levels, and extreme temperatures characteristic of the low Earth orbit environment. Following the launch, a prototype satellite carrying Google's Tensor processing units will be sent into orbit to evaluate whether these AI chips can operate reliably in space. Space radiation is known to disrupt electronic devices or cause their performance to degrade, including by inducing data errors known as "bit flips," according to Reuters. Although Google has tested its Tensor processing units while running AI workloads at a facility at the University of California, Davis, the company emphasized that in-orbit testing is crucial for understanding the hardware's actual performance in a real-world environment. The company will also evaluate its innovative design for cooling power-intensive chips in the vacuum of space, where traditional air cooling is impossible, by combining heat pipes and radiators. However, experts have indicated that this concept remains years away from commercial viability, citing high launch costs, complex engineering constraints, and current bottlenecks in satellite production. Google clarified that the initial "Sun Catcher" mission is designed to gather vital orbital data and identify potential failure points, rather than to showcase a fully operational orbital data center. The company aims to launch two additional satellites in 2027 to test high-bandwidth laser links, which will be essential for connecting future computing clusters in space.
