Google is preparing to launch a satellite carrying its artificial intelligence processors as part of Project Suncatcher, an experimental effort exploring whether AI computing can eventually operate in space. The satellite will carry Google’s Tensor Processing Units and is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on October 1. Google plans to test how the processors perform under the radiation, thermal conditions and physical stresses of space. The company is also testing cooling technologies using heat pipes and radiators. During initial testing, Google found that its processors could withstand significant g-forces and radiation, although operating time in orbit may initially be limited by heat buildup. Google plans to launch two additional satellites next year as it studies the possibility of developing larger space-based computing infrastructure. Travis Beals, a senior product management leader for Project Suncatcher, said the project will require gradual testing to determine whether space can become a practical location for scalable AI computing.
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https://www.theverge.com/tech/1000015/google-ai-satellite-space-project-suncatcher
