A SpaceX rocket will carry four Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) into orbit next week to test the viability of hosting artificial intelligence in the vacuum of space. The experimental craft, part of Project Suncatcher, will launch on October 1 and carry enough computing power to answer simple Gemini queries from orbit. The mission represents the first attempt by a major technology firm to build the foundation for AI data centers in space.

Google plans two additional satellite launches in 2027 and is currently designing fleets of more than 80 satellites to operate as a unified orbital network. The minimum viable product launching this month will operate for one year to evaluate chip reliability. The company anticipates that space-based compute will reach cost parity with terrestrial facilities by the mid-2030s.