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Google has announced that a prototype satellite for its Suncatcher project will launch aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission, currently scheduled for October 1. The mission aims to test the feasibility of deploying AI computing infrastructure in space.

The primary objective is to evaluate the performance of Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), which are designed to support AI workloads, under the harsh conditions of the space environment.

San Francisco-based Earth-imaging company Planet built the prototype satellite as part of its partnership with Google on the Suncatcher project.

The spacecraft carries four TPUs and is expected to operate in Earth orbit for one year if the mission proceeds as planned. During that period, Google will monitor the chips’ performance, including their exposure to space radiation and the effectiveness of systems designed to dissipate the heat they generate.

Thermal management is considered one of the major challenges facing orbital data centers, as the absence of air currents in space makes conventional cooling methods more difficult.

Google said it is exploring several cooling approaches, including a combination of heat pipes and radiators. The company has already tested the technology inside a thermal-vacuum chamber designed to simulate the heat and vacuum conditions of space.

The company also plans to use the mission to gather data that could help improve the cooling systems used for its TPUs.

The next stage of the Suncatcher project will focus on laser communication technology, which will be essential for connecting satellites operating as part of a large orbital constellation.

Google plans to test the technology in 2027 by sending two satellites into orbit. Planet will also build those spacecraft.

The Suncatcher initiative comes as several companies explore the development of orbital data centers powered by solar energy to support AI computing. While the long-term feasibility of such projects remains uncertain, the Transporter-18 mission could provide Google with valuable data for assessing the potential of AI infrastructure in space.