Google Tests AI Data Center In Space (npr.org)
- Reference: 0186009360
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/10/03/0113206/google-tests-ai-data-center-in-space
- Source link: https://www.npr.org/2026/10/01/nx-s1-5983697/project-suncatcher-google-ai-data-center-space
> Google just [2]put a refrigerator-sized satellite into space , part of a research project the company hopes can pave the way for orbiting AI data centers powered by the sun. The prototype satellite has four specialty chips in it called Tensor Processing Units, or TPUs, that Google designed for machine learning and has already deployed in data centers on Earth. The chips will run a version of the company's Gemma AI model for 15 minutes at a time due to heat management constraints, using the open weight model to answer simple queries.
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> In a [3]blog post , Google said the mission will gauge how the TPUs handle "the physical stress of spaceflight and the radiation and thermal extremes of space." The satellite [4]launched October 1 is a prototype that Travis Beals, senior director and lead of Project Suncatcher, called "a very minimal test" to make sure the chips can run in space. A SpaceX rocket carried it into orbit, and Planet will get it up and running. Beal said Google will then fire up and test the TPUs. The goal is for the mission to be operational for a year.
[1] https://slashdot.org/~Geoffrey.landis
[2] https://www.npr.org/2026/10/01/nx-s1-5983697/project-suncatcher-google-ai-data-center-space
[3] https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/google-research/google-project-suncatcher-facts/
[4] https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/gemini/articles/alphabet-test-ai-chips-orbit-132831018.html
It's an ad programme for "new space" startups (Score:2)
The promise of "new space" startups like SpaceX is, that they will somehow be able to reduce the costs of bringing up something into space by multiple orders of magnitude. That's what they promise, if people stop believing that they can do that eventually, they will just implode.
Bringing electronics into space has it's problems, but it's essentially proven technology. We have had space stations converting many kilowatts for decades now. We can do that, we know how to do that. We know where to get the energy
Re: (Score:2)
I think that SpaceX is going to build the satellites on the Moon using robots and launch them using rails to minimize launch cost. In theory is sounds like a good plan.
Personally, I think we will invent more efficient AI faster than the factory is up and running, but I have to admit that SpaceX makes the world more interesting so I have nothing against them.
Re: (Score:1)
> The promise of "new space" startups like SpaceX is, that they will somehow be able to reduce the costs of bringing up something into space by multiple orders of magnitude.
Like this? [1]https://ourworldindata.org/gra... [ourworldindata.org]
Well that's one order of magnitude down, depending on where you place the goalpost. Starship only needs to halve the per kg cost of Falcon Heavy to add another one, again, depending on where you put the goalpost. If the goalpost started with the space shuttle, for example, then without question, it's doable.
> The answer is that putting anything into orbit is prohibitively expensive.
You sound just like this guy:
[2]https://x.com/Tazerface16 [x.com]
TL;DR claims to be an aerospace engineer and, for years, even as recently as April this year, was very lo
[1] https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/cost-space-launches-low-earth-orbit?time=1962..latest
[2] https://x.com/Tazerface16
"AI Data Center" is doing some heavy lifting here (Score:2)
What they've launched is a data center the same way David Hahn built a nuclear reactor in his shed. (If he was alive today, he could IPO his reactor startup and make billions.)
Re: "AI Data Center" is doing some heavy lifting h (Score:2)
At least they didn't use the F-word (factory)
Re: "AI Data Center" is doing some heavy lifting (Score:2)
Not to say that servers in space are remotely sane in this universe, which they are not
Nice deception (Score:2)
The will know this makes no sense with regards top Physics. But they are engaged in the same deception most LLM providers are: Pretending that "AI" will give us a golden age, so they can reap insane profits before it all comes crashing down.
Re: Nice deception (Score:2)
Can we launch stuff into space? Yes
Can we use solar panels in space? Yes
Can we run processors in space? Yes
Can we cool processors in space? Yes
Can we send and receive data in space? Yes
What exactly do think the problem is that Physics says makes no sense?
Finance, profitability, return on investment, depreciation are the things you want to look at
If they are thermally efficient enough (Score:3)
for space... then we have zero problem using them here on earth. Space is cold but is also a vacuum so you lose all of your ability to convectively cool and are reliant on radiative cooling alone.
Re: (Score:1)
You know what the best thing about this topic is? Everybody who comments on it thinks they're an expert.
Re: (Score:2)
The problem on Earth is mostly NIMBYs, and also a bit the time it takes to set up new electricity supplies.
It looks like the cost to orbit is going to decrease substantially, and solar up there can cover all the power needs 24/7, and so far Space NIMBYs have not had much effect on those mega constellations.