Google has launched its first orbital compute satellite, which carries a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) chip. The prototype was developed in partnership with Planet Labs and aims to test the chip's performance in space, including power supply and cooling capabilities.
The project, known as Suncatcher, is a long-term initiative to develop large-scale compute clusters in orbit. Google envisions a future network of 81 satellites operating in close formation to handle parallel AI workloads.
A new Google white paper published in Joule analyzes the requirements for orbital data centers. Researchers estimate that achieving launch costs of $200 per kilogram by 2035 would require SpaceX’s Starship to deliver 370 000 tons of payload to orbit.
This target implies approximately 1 800 Starship launches over the next decade, or 180 flights per year, assuming a 200-metric-ton payload capacity per mission. Google researchers note that current launch rates remain significantly lower.
