Google Speeds Up Space-Based AI Data Center Plans with October Launch

Google has accelerated its plans to launch an experimental AI satellite as part of Project Suncatcher, which aims to build AI data centers in orbit. The satellite, named MVP, is scheduled to launch on October 1, ahead of schedule.

The satellite will carry four Google tensor processing units, with a combined computing power equivalent to one data-center server. Its solar panels will deliver about one kilowatt, enough to answer simple queries from space.

Google's senior director of product management for Project Suncatcher, Travis Beals, said the chips can run for about 15 minutes before they shut down to cool due to the lack of fans in space. The satellite is designed to operate for about a year.

Planet Labs originally agreed to launch two satellites for Google in 2027 but accelerated their plans to reach orbit this year. Google accepted added risk and installed its chips in a ready-made Planet Labs satellite, which will be launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.