Google flies first Project Suncatcher satellite carrying AI chips into orbit
On Oct 1, Google flew its first experimental Project Suncatcher satellite aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare from Vandenberg. The refrigerator-sized craft, built with Planet Labs, carries four Google TPUs to test whether AI hardware survives launch, radiation and temperature swings in orbit.
Google has flown its first experimental Project Suncatcher satellite into orbit, launching aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Oct 1.
The refrigerator-sized spacecraft, built in partnership with Planet Labs, carries four Google TPUs to test whether AI hardware can survive launch stresses, radiation and temperature swings in space.
The long-term goal is to learn whether AI data centres could operate in orbit, where a solar panel can generate power up to eight times more productively than on Earth.
