Google confirms Suncatcher prototype in orbit, models 1,800 Starship flights

Google confirmed on October 1, 2026, that its Project Suncatcher prototype reached orbit, with a technical model estimating around 1,800 Starship flights under specific assumptions. The prototype, launched on the Transporter-18 mission and built with Planet, is functioning as planned. Google's model calculates that reaching launch costs below $200 per kilogram by 2035 would require roughly 370,000 additional tons in orbit, assuming 200 tons per flight. The project studies how Google's TPUs perform in space conditions and explores satellite-based AI computing infrastructure. Google plans a two-satellite test in 2027 to evaluate optical inter-satellite links, describing the cost analysis as a high-level assessment rather than a full feasibility study.