Google to Space: First Satellite to Test AI in Orbit

Follow-up - Al-Wasat Iraqi newspaper

Google has launched its first satellite as part of tests to operate artificial intelligence technologies in space, under the "Sun Catcher" project aimed at developing solar-powered orbital data centers.

The satellite lifted off Thursday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, on board SpaceX's "Transporter-18" mission, which is dedicated to carrying multiple payloads.

The mission aims to test the ability of AI hardware to operate under the harsh conditions of space, including high levels of radiation, mechanical stresses and extreme temperatures. Engineers will also monitor the chips' ability to dissipate heat in the vacuum of space, where there is no airflow to aid cooling.

In this context, Maria Biggs, Director of Engineering at Google, said that the "Sun Catcher" project is based on the idea of expanding AI infrastructure through orbital data centers that take advantage of the abundant solar power available in space.

This mission differs from previous experiments, such as the European Space Agency's "PhiSat-1" mission, which used AI chips in space for tasks including environmental monitoring. This time, Google is seeking to test AI computing capabilities approaching the levels used in terrestrial data centers.

If the experiment succeeds, the results could pave the way for creating massive towers of satellites equipped with AI technologies.

However, this direction raises concerns about increased collision risks and the accumulation of space debris, as well as light pollution that could harm astronomers' work. This comes amid growing plans to establish orbital data centers, after Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, earlier this year revealed ambitions to launch up to a million satellites that could function as AI-dedicated data centers.

Source: news agencies