Google Taps Space for Cheaper AI Computing

Google's Project Suncatcher aims to test AI chips in orbit by launching a satellite on October 1, 2026. The MVP (minimum viable product) satellite is small and modest by design, with a payload of four Google Trillium TPUs. These custom chips are used for running AI tasks, and the satellite will be powered by solar panels that can generate up to eight times more energy than those on Earth due to the lack of clouds, nighttime, and atmosphere.

The launch was originally scheduled for 2027 but has been pushed forward, indicating the growing competition in the field. Google's involvement with SpaceX is also noteworthy, as it owns a 6% stake in the company, which plans to launch up to 1 million solar-powered computing satellites in the future.

The use of orbital data centers could potentially reduce costs by $200 per kilogram, but current rocket prices are around 35 times higher than this target. Google's long-term economics depend on SpaceX's Starship program succeeding, which would significantly lower launch costs.