Google tests AI in orbit

Google has successfully run an artificial intelligence model in space, marking a significant step for its Project Suncatcher. The test involved sending a command to a satellite equipped with Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-18 mission.

Satellite launched in collaboration

The satellite, developed in partnership with Planet Labs, was launched on October 1, 2026. After several weeks of checks, Google confirmed that it had executed its Gemma 4 model on the satellite and received the result back on Earth. For this first demonstration, the engineers asked the model to compose a haiku dedicated to space.

First orbital AI demonstration

The result, which evokes imagery of Earth, data streams, and starlight, was returned to Earth. This achievement comes as SpaceX's Starmind project, which aims to deploy satellites with high-capacity computing systems, is still in the planning phase. According to Reuters, SpaceX aims for its first orbital computing demonstrations by the end of 2027.

Power and technical challenges

Google's satellite produces only about 1 kW of electricity, which is significantly less than what a terrestrial data center would require. The satellite can only run one TPU at a time for about twenty minutes. The main challenges include managing heat dissipation in the vacuum of space, radiation effects on components, and communication constraints with the ground.

Future plans for 2027

Google plans a new stage in 2027, with two satellites interconnected by optical links. This will allow for the exploration of distributing calculations between multiple vehicles, a more complex challenge than simply verifying that a processor works in space. The profitability of real orbital data centers remains to be demonstrated, as the costs of manufacturing, launching, powering, cooling, connecting, and maintaining satellites are significant.

Previous orbital computing attempts

It is noted that Google is not the first to send computing equipment into orbit. The company Starcloud had launched a satellite equipped with an Nvidia H100 GPU in 2025. However, Google's novelty lies in the execution of a model on a data center-class TPU, with an actual response sent back to Earth.