Google sees 1,800 starship flights needed for orbital data centers

Google has launched its first orbital compute satellite, carrying a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) into space aboard a SpaceX rocket. The satellite will test the chip’s performance in orbit, with plans to run 15-minute bursts of processing to avoid overloading power and thermal systems. The company envisions a future network of 81 satellites working in parallel to create an orbital data center, but this requires significant advancements in space launch capabilities. Google estimates that SpaceX’s Starship must launch 1,800 times over the next decade to achieve the necessary payload capacity at a cost-effective rate. Travis Beals, head of Project Suncatcher, emphasized that the project is a long-term initiative focused on future AI workloads, not current needs. Google’s research also highlights the potential for reduced rocket costs, projecting launch prices could reach $200 per kilogram by 2035. The company’s latest findings suggest its TPUs can handle orbital operations for five years, despite radiation challenges.