Google launches AI chips into orbit to test their performance in space

Google launched a prototype satellite on Thursday to test how its Tensor Processing Units, or TPUs, operate in the space environment. The satellite carries four of the AI chips into orbit. The satellite was sent aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare mission, and Google has confirmed contact with it. The launch is the first step of Project Suncatcher, a research effort with Planet Labs PBC to explore hosting machine learning infrastructure in space. Google will collect data on how the TPUs handle radiation, thermal extremes, and physical stress in orbit. The company notes that satellites in low Earth orbit can access near-constant sunlight, potentially generating up to eight times more solar power than on Earth, and could eventually be linked to handle larger AI workloads.