Google to test AI chips in space with Project Suncatcher

The mission, scheduled to fly on SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare launch in collaboration with satellite company Planet Labs, will evaluate how Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) endure the harsh conditions of low Earth orbit, including launch forces, radiation, and extreme temperatures. Space radiation is known to disrupt electronics, causing errors like bit flips.

While Google has previously tested its TPUs with AI workloads in a controlled facility, orbital testing is deemed necessary to understand real-world performance. The company will also assess its cooling design, which combines heat pipes with radiators to manage the heat generated by power-intensive chips in the vacuum of space where conventional airflow cooling is not possible.

Experts suggest that the commercial viability of orbital data centers is still years away due to high launch costs, engineering challenges, and satellite production bottlenecks. The initial Suncatcher mission is focused on collecting in-orbit data and identifying potential failure points, rather than demonstrating an operational data center. Google plans to launch two more satellites in 2027 to test the high-bandwidth laser links required for future computing clusters.