The organisation will launch a prototype satellite as a first in-orbit test of Project Suncatcher.

Google has confirmed plans to launch a prototype satellite next week as part of its strategy to study how AI computing infrastructure operates in space.

As part of the test, Google will deploy its tensor processing units (TPUs) in space and evaluate how they perform. 

The first in-orbit test is a part of Project Suncatcher, which is a research effort designed to explore space’s potential to host large-scale AI computing infrastructure, particularly under harsh conditions.  

In a blogpost, Google’s senior director for its Paradigms of Intelligence team Travis Beals said: “Project Suncatcher is a long-term, research moonshot exploring whether space could one day host scalable machine learning infrastructure. 

“In low Earth orbit, satellites can access near-constant sunlight, generating up to eight times more solar power than on Earth. Eventually, it could be possible to link together multiple constellations of satellites, allowing them to manage larger AI workloads while in orbit.”

Beals added: “Turning that idea into reality starts with a basic question, can our AI hardware operate in space? This initial mission onboard the upcoming Transporter-18 rideshare mission with SpaceX was developed in partnership with Planet. 

“It’s designed to gather in-orbit data on how our TPUs handle the physical stress of spaceflight and the radiation and thermal extremes of space.”

According to Google, a rocket trip into low orbit takes roughly 10 minutes, during which the craft experiences intense vibrations and sustained acceleration that can be 10 times the force of gravity (g-force).

Beals said: “Individual components, such as the TPU chips, can experience even greater forces up to 50 to 100 g. The team conducted vibration testing by intensely shaking the satellite on all three axes to mimic the frequencies of a rocket launch.” 

Once in space, the TPUs will then be exposed to radiation outside of the Earth’s atmosphere, as well as solar events and cosmic rays that can disrupt electronics.

Google’s TPUs were tested in a proton beam facility at UC Davis’s Crocker Nuclear Laboratory while running AI workloads. 

Beals said: “During the test, we monitored closely to see how errors, like a bitflip, would affect our workloads. Initial results have shown that our Trillium TPUs hold up remarkably well and can survive a radiation total ionising dose greater than what they would receive during a five-year space mission.”

Tests, while useful, are only half the equation, as noted by Beals who explained that the real test is in how the TPUs perform in space. The hope is that, by putting the TPUs into orbit, the team will be able to gather data and learnings to inform future launches.

“Exploring space as a viable location for scalable AI compute won’t happen all at once,” said Beals.

“It takes methodical engineering, starting with proving our hardware can handle the physical and unpredictable realities of operating in orbit. This first launch is about seeing what works, identifying points of failure, and applying those findings to future missions.”

Earlier this month, Google announced its largest single investment in Europe to date with a commitment to invest €13bn into Finland’s digital infrastructure over the course of the next two years. This will include supporting data centre build-outs, and the funding of clean energy and nature restoration projects.

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