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Google launches a prototype satellite for Project Suncatcher to test onboard AI computing in orbit using TPUs

Deployment Provisional 78% confidence first seen

Google sent a prototype satellite carrying a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) into orbit to test running AI compute in space as part of its orbital data-center plans. The satellite is expected to operate for about a year, running AI workloads intermittently while collecting orbit data; additional satellites are planned to extend testing of communications links and larger workloads.

Google Project Suncatcher Satlyt Android Gemma SpaceX SpaceX rocket Starship TPU Tensor Processing Unit iPhone in-orbit compute cloud

Source coverage

Satlyt, founded by a former Google and SpaceX product manager, raises $8M to run AI on satellites TechCrunch independent Google thinks SpaceX’s Starship has to launch 1,600 times before space data centers get off the ground TechCrunch independent Project Suncatcher: Google’s A.I. Chips Are Now Computing in Orbit Trending Topics independent

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