Google Tests Tensor Processing Units in Space with Project Suncatcher

Google is embarking on a groundbreaking experiment to test its Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) in space. The tech giant has partnered with Planet and SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare mission to launch a prototype satellite, which will evaluate the reliability of TPUs in extreme conditions.

The satellites will be exposed to radiation, thermal challenges, and the lack of airflow in space, where cooling is essential. Google has already conducted research on the ground, including tests with proton beams at UC Davis's Crocker Nuclear Laboratory. Initial results showed that individual components could withstand radiation exceeding what is expected during a five-year space mission.

As part of Project Suncatcher, multiple TPUs will be connected in clusters to operate in tandem, leveraging near-constant sunlight and potentially generating up to eight times more solar power than on Earth. High-bandwidth laser communication will also be tested, with a two-satellite mission planned for 2027.

The long-term vision involves satellites equipped with dozens of TPUs operating as interconnected clusters in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Google emphasizes that the project remains a research program rather than an operational orbital data center.