SpaceX Launches Google AI Chips into Orbit to Test Space-Based Data Centres

SpaceX launched Planet Labs satellites carrying Google tensor processing units (TPUs) aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on Thursday, marking the first in-orbit test for Alphabet’s space computing initiative.

The uncrewed Transporter-18 rideshare mission lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying the solar-powered prototype into low Earth orbit. The flight serves as a major practical trial for Project Suncatcher, Alphabet’s experimental effort aimed at building reliable artificial intelligence infrastructure in space.

Testing Earth-Bound AI Hardware in Vacuum of Orbit

The orbital test aims to evaluate how commercial AI hardware copes with the harsh conditions of space flight and orbital deployment. Engineers from Google and Planet Labs will track the performance of standard TPUs—the same processors powering data centres on Earth—as they endure high gravitational forces during launch, space radiation, and extreme temperature fluctuations.

Managing thermal conditions remains a core engineering hurdle. Without atmospheric airflow, the orbiting hardware must rely on specialized heat pipes and radiators to prevent processors from overheating during intensive computation workloads.

Solving Energy Crunch with Near-Constant Sunlight

Tech conglomerates are turning to orbital computing to overcome severe terrestrial power and water constraints associated with energy-intensive AI model training. Google estimates that solar panels deployed in low Earth orbit can generate up to eight times more electricity than ground installations due to the absence of atmospheric blockage and near-continuous sunlight exposure.

The current launch forms part of a phased technical roadmap. Alphabet and Planet Labs plan a follow-up mission in 2027 featuring two satellites designed to test high-bandwidth optical laser links, a step required to interconnect clusters of TPUs across satellite swarms.