Google plans to launch two experimental satellites with Earth observation company Planet by early 2027 to test technology for a possible future AI computing network in orbit. The mission is part of Project Suncatcher, a research initiative announced in November 2025.
The prototypes will test how Google’s Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) chips perform in space and whether optical links can connect satellites carrying out shared computing tasks. The launch will be a technology demonstration, rather than an operational space data centre.
Google’s longer-term concept involves clusters of solar-powered satellites linked by high-speed communications. The company says a suitable low-Earth orbit could give their solar panels near-continuous sunlight, potentially providing power for large-scale AI computing.
Significant obstacles remain, including keeping satellites in close formation, managing heat, communicating with Earth and reducing launch costs. Google has not announced when, or whether, a full-scale orbital AI data centre would enter service.
This post was published on 24 September 2026 15:56
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