Google Sends AI Chips into Space to Test Future Data Centers

Google is taking a significant step towards building data centers in space with its Project Suncatcher research effort. The company plans to launch four Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) into orbit next week aboard a SpaceX rocket as part of an experiment to see if they can survive the harsh conditions of space.

The TPUs will be part of a prototype satellite developed with Earth-imaging company Planet, and are expected to test whether Google's AI chips can operate reliably in space. The appeal of building data centers in space is access to near-constant sunlight, which could generate up to eight times as much power as comparable panels on Earth.

The experiment is a small-scale test, carrying only four TPUs compared to the thousands used in conventional data centers on Earth. Google's goal is to gather information about what works and what fails, with the aim of eventually building larger systems.