Google Launches AI Chip into Space to Test Reliability in Orbit

Google is pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence (AI) computing by launching its first AI chip into space next week under Project Suncatcher. The mission, in partnership with satellite imaging company Planet Labs, will test Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) in low Earth orbit to see if they can operate reliably outside Earth's atmosphere.

The satellite will measure how the TPUs withstand radiation exposure and extreme temperature swings in orbit, which can be challenging for electronic components. The chips were previously tested by simulating radiation exposure at a nuclear laboratory, where they showed no hard failures up to 15 krad(Si), a significant dose of radiation.

Google's research paper outlines a vision of compact satellite constellations that could help overcome the signal losses that typically limit long-range space communication. The company plans to launch two satellites in 2027 to test high-bandwidth laser links, which would be needed for future computing clusters.