Google’s Project Suncatcher to put ML infrastructure in space
Google is launching a prototype satellite to test how its TPUs perform in orbit, part of Project Suncatcher—a moonshot exploring whether space can host scalable AI compute. The mission will gather data on hardware survival under launch forces, radiation, and thermal extremes, and test a new cooling system. Future plans include clusters of satellites linked by high-bandwidth lasers, with a two-satellite test planned for 2027.
Maintaining the necessary connection requires extraordinary precision, similar to hitting a coin-size target from miles away while both points are in motion.
- fwlr
Yes, the physics are worse, and yes, the economics are worse, but data centers in space have the crucial advantage that they are out of range of the molotov-throwing arm of Joe Public (recently unemployed).
- kin
For those questioning viability, there's a startup called Starcloud https://www.starcloud.com/ with a public whitepaper explaining a bit their hardware and economics https://www.starcloud.com/wp.
They've already had one small proof of concept launched.
Not trying to promote, I just heard about them on the ycomb podcast
- nova22033
Alphabet holds approximately 551 million shares of SpaceX (trading under the ticker SPCX), valued at roughly $94.1 billion, which represents about a 4% to 6% stake in the company.
- neuronexmachina
Whenever I hear about this I can't help but be reminded of the Howard Hughes Glomar Explorer, where a hugely-expensive commercial project was actually part of a secret CIA initiative to recover a Soviet submarine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glomar_Explorer
I'm not sure that's truly the case here, but it does seem like the tech Project Suncatcher is working on has at least some overlap with requirements for military SIGINT and in-orbit imagery processing.
- ReactiveJelly
Oh, this is research for building a bigger Gorgon Stare: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgon_Stare
$50 on black. No other cost-effective use case. The US government only lets you pollute orbit when you're helping them, like Starlink.
- zactato
How are they solving the heat dissipation issues?
- GMoromisato
If data centers in space end up being economically viable, then I don't see how anyone can catch SpaceX. They are ten years ahead in both launch capability and satellite manufacturing.
- ilamont
I didn't have time to watch the videos, but in the text I didn't see anything that addresses data center operations requiring manual intervention.
Swapping out obsolete or failing TPUs. Rewiring or replacing connections. "Listening" for sounds indicating an equipment failure.
What are the proposals to address these needs?
- sghiassy
Why isn’t building data centers in Greenland being talked about?
- Unlimited geothermal energy.
- Cold climate for heat dissipation
- tons of land
- ovin_dal
Curious what specific problem this solves that can't be done terrestrially. Bandwidth and latency from orbit sound gnarly.