Google has launched its first Project Suncatcher prototype satellite to test AI data centers in space. Deployed October 1, 2026, via a SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-18 mission, the satellite contains TPU hardware and was developed in partnership with Planet.
The mission evaluates TPU durability against radiation, extreme temperatures, and launch forces reaching 100 g. Google confirmed successful contact with the hardware, which utilizes heat pipes and radiators for vacuum-based thermal management in orbit.
Orbital data centers could leverage solar energy eight times more efficiently than terrestrial sites. While Google plans laser link tests for 2027, economic viability requires launch costs to hit $200 per kilogram, a milestone projected for the mid-2030s.