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Google plans first test of AI chips in space under Project Suncatcher
Reuters • • business
Key Points:
- Google plans to launch a prototype satellite equipped with Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) into low Earth orbit to test the reliability of its AI chips in space conditions.
- The satellite will assess the impact of space radiation on the TPUs, including issues like data errors caused by bit flips, which cannot be fully replicated on Earth.
- The company will also evaluate a cooling system for the power-intensive chips using heat pipes and radiators, as conventional airflow cooling is ineffective in the vacuum of space.
- Experts caution that the technology is still years away from commercial viability due to high launch costs, engineering challenges, and satellite production bottlenecks.
- Google’s initial Suncatcher mission aims to collect in-orbit data and identify potential failure points, with plans to launch two more satellites in 2027 to test high-bandwidth laser links for future orbital computing clusters.
