On October 1, Google plans to launch its first test satellite for Project Suncatcher, aimed at creating AI data centers in Earth’s orbit. This initiative seeks to utilize solar energy in space, reducing the need for expansive data centers on the planet.
The initial satellite, named MVP, is refrigerator-sized and developed by Planet Labs. It carries four of Google’s TPU accelerators, designed to run the Gemini AI program in space.
Equipped with solar panels generating about one kilowatt, MVP faces cooling constraints that limit the TPU chips’ operation to 15 minutes at a time during tests.
