Google has initiated a test of an orbital data center, launching a satellite equipped with four Tensor Processing Units. The system is powered by solar panels generating 1 kilowatt of energy. Due to thermal constraints, the chips can operate for only 15 minutes at a time before requiring a shutdown for cooling. The satellite utilizes a specialized cooling system to vent heat directly into space.
The hardware is designed to handle AI requests for up to one year, with the satellite remaining in orbit for a total of six years before re-entry. To mitigate data errors caused by space radiation, Google plans to periodically restart the chips. James Manyika, Google's senior vice president of research, noted that the company does not expect operational orbital data centers for several years.
Google is already planning the next phase of the project, which includes launching two additional satellites. Long-term goals involve the deployment of networked fleets consisting of more than 80 satellites. The company estimates that transitioning from a four-chip server to a fully functional orbital data center could take approximately 15 years.
