Concept and Design

Project Suncatcher is Google’s proposal to situate artificial‑intelligence data centers aboard a constellation of satellites that operate in free‑fall, using no thrust. The satellites would be linked together, forming a network that processes AI workloads in orbit. Because received power diminishes with the square of the distance, Google’s plan requires the satellites to stay within a kilometer of each other, and models suggest that spacing them only several hundred meters apart would keep station‑keeping maneuvers modest.

Technical Challenges

Space‑qualified hardware traditionally costs more and offers reduced performance because it must survive extreme temperatures and radiation. Google’s approach is to reuse components designed for Earth, acknowledging that they may lack the robustness normally required for space. The company points to examples like the Snapdragon‑powered Mars Ingenuity helicopter, which demonstrates that off‑the‑shelf hardware can endure harsh environments longer than expected.

Radiation Testing of TPUs

A core requirement for the project is that Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) operate reliably for at least five years, a duration that translates to an exposure of 750 rad. To verify this, Google subjected its latest v6e Cloud TPU, known as Trillium, to a 67 MeV proton beam. The tests revealed that memory was the most vulnerable part of the chip, but the TPU withstood nearly three times the anticipated radiation level—approximately 2 krad—before any data corruption was observed.

Launch Timeline and Cost Outlook

Google intends to launch a pair of prototype satellites equipped with TPUs by early 2027. While the initial launch costs are expected to be high, the company anticipates that by the mid‑2030s launch expenses could drop to as low as $200 per kilogram. At such prices, operating space‑based data centers could become economically comparable to traditional terrestrial facilities.

Potential Impact on Terrestrial Data Centers

Conventional data centers are often criticized for being noisy, power‑hungry, and water‑intensive, leading to opposition from nearby communities. By moving AI processing to orbit, Project Suncatcher could alleviate these environmental and social concerns, though it may introduce new considerations for astronomers.

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