Google has unveiled Project Suncatcher, a research effort to place AI‑focused Tensor Processing Units on solar‑powered satellites, creating data centers in orbit. The company argues that space could offer near‑continuous solar energy, potentially making compute more sustainable. Key hurdles include ultra‑high‑speed inter‑satellite links, tight formation flying, radiation tolerance, and cost competitiveness. Google plans a joint launch with Planet to test prototype hardware by 2027, hoping the approach could become comparable to Earth‑based energy costs by the mid‑2030s. Read more →