Google has launched its first advanced chip into space today, sending a prototype orbital compute satellite aboard a SpaceX rocket from California. This marks the first time the tech giant has sent one of its advanced chips into orbit.
Built by Planet Labs, the satellite is designed to test whether a Google Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) can operate effectively in space. This involves providing a kilowatt of continuous power, cooling the chip, and running various models to identify any issues. Travis Beals, the Google executive managing Project Suncatcher, stated that while ground testing has been conducted, "there's no test that's completely as good as the real thing."
Once commissioned, the satellite will activate its TPU in 15-minute bursts to manage the satellite's power and thermal systems. Google and Planet Labs are also developing a demonstration expected next year, featuring two satellites more specifically designed for advanced compute, which will attempt to collaborate via a laser communications link.
Google also released a peer-reviewed white paper on orbital data centres today, which includes an analysis of how compute reaches orbit. The paper suggests that for launch prices to reach approximately $200 per kilogram by 2035, Starship would need to fly 370,000 tons of payload into orbit. This would require around 1,800 launches over the next decade, or 180 per year, assuming it can carry 200 metric tons per mission.
Updated research from Google indicates that its chips are likely to withstand space radiation. While re-testing in a particle accelerator showed slightly more errors in the chip's logic circuitry than initially expected, the company remains confident its chips can handle large inference workloads in orbit for a satellite's five-year lifespan.