Google will launch a prototype satellite carrying four Tensor Processing Units into low Earth orbit on October 1. The mission is part of Project Suncatcher and will fly on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare called Transporter-18. The satellite, named MVP, was built with Planet Labs. It will test how Google’s AI chips handle launch vibrations, cosmic radiation and extreme temperatures. On the ground the chips already survived proton-beam tests meant to simulate years of radiation. In space the four TPUs can run for only about 15 minutes before they must shut down to avoid overheating. Cooling relies on heat pipes and external radiators because fans do not work in vacuum. The flight is a proof of concept, not a commercial data center. Google plans two more test satellites in 2027 to try high-bandwidth laser links between orbiting chips. The long-term idea is solar-powered orbital clusters that could generate up to eight times more energy than ground panels.
Google will launch a prototype satellite carrying four Tensor Processing Units into low Earth orbit on October 1. The mission is part of Project Suncatcher and will fly on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare called Transporter-18. The satellite, named MVP, was built with Planet Labs. It will test how Google’s AI chips handle launch vibrations, cosmic radiation and extreme temperatures. On the ground the chips already survived proton-beam tests meant to simulate years of radiation. In space the four TPUs can run for only about 15 minutes before they must shut down to avoid overheating. Cooling relies on heat pipes and external radiators because fans do not work in vacuum. The flight is a proof of concept, not a commercial data center. Google plans two more test satellites in 2027 to try high-bandwidth laser links between orbiting chips. The long-term idea is solar-powered orbital clusters that could generate up to eight times more energy than ground panels.