Google Tests AI Chips in Space with Project Suncatcher

Google has launched its Project Suncatcher prototype satellite into low Earth orbit to test AI chips in space. The mission, which reached orbit on October 1st, 2026, carries four Google Trillium TPUs and aims to see if the chips can survive launch vibrations, radiation, and extreme thermal conditions.

The tech giant plans to use space computing to reduce the power and cooling demands of AI data centers. By leveraging solar panels in orbit, they estimate that up to 8 times more power could be generated than on Earth, eliminating the need for conventional air-based cooling.

To achieve this goal, Google envisions clusters of satellites carrying many TPUs. One proposed configuration involves 81 satellites within a 1-kilometer radius. However, scaling the idea would require sending 370,000 tons of payload into orbit, which could be achieved with Starship launches but at a high cost.

The current cost of launching hardware into low Earth orbit is around $3,600 per kilogram, making it difficult to compete with terrestrial data-center power costs. However, Google estimates that the price could drop to $200 by the mid-2030s, facilitated by competition among similar projects such as Blue Origin's Project Sunrise and Starcloud.