Google is launching an AI satellite into orbit next week.

Google is gearing up to launch a satellite equipped with its AI processors to evaluate their performance in the harsh environment of space. This initiative is part of Project Suncatcher, an experimental program aimed at potentially establishing AI data centers in orbit.

The satellite, featuring Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), is set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on October 1st. This mission will allow the TPUs to utilize solar energy while in low Earth orbit. The primary objective is to assess how well these processors can endure the physical stresses of space travel, along with the extreme radiation and temperature conditions.

This launch is a significant step toward Google’s vision of deploying a network of chip-laden satellites, a concept that has also been considered by notable figures in the tech industry as a viable alternative to terrestrial data centers. The company plans to send two more satellites into orbit next year.

In preliminary tests, Google discovered that its TPUs can handle substantial g-forces and radiation levels, but emphasized that “some things can only be tested in space.” The project also aims to experiment with a cooling system that utilizes heat pipes and radiators while the chips are operational in orbit. Travis Beals, the senior director of product management for Project Suncatcher, mentioned that the chips can only function for about 15 minutes before requiring a cooldown period.

“Exploring space as a viable location for scalable AI compute won’t happen all at once,” Beals stated in the announcement. “It takes methodical engineering, starting with proving our hardware can handle the physical and unpredictable realities of operating in orbit. This first launch is about seeing what works, identifying points of failure, and applying those findings to future missions.”