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Google's orbital AI data center test packs four TPUs and 1,000W of solar power — overheating limits runs to just 15 minutes, but orbital server will handle tasks for one year
Google is set to launch an experimental satellite, named MVP, into orbit next week to test running an AI data center in space. As part of a wider initiative called Project Suncatcher, the satellite will be aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket when it launches from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Once in space, and assuming everything goes well, the tech on board the satellite will be capable of handling simple AI requests from space.
The New York Times points out that while the move is an important one, the satellite will be limited in terms of its processing power. It will feature just four Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) and be similar to a single Earth-bound server in terms of capabilities. It will be powered by solar panels capable of providing a single kilowatt of power to the tensor chips.
While clearly limited, the orbiting server is set to handle AI requests for up to a year, although it will remain in orbit for up to six years. After that, gravity will take hold, and the satellite will burn up during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.
Before that happens, James Manyika, Google's senior vice president of research, expects to learn more about how space may become a home for future data centers, though probably not for a long time.
“We don’t expect, to be perfectly frank, that we’ll have anything usefully operational in the next few years,” the SVP told the Times. He went on to compare the venture to Google's driverless cars, saying that Google was testing those "like 15 years before anything showed up." The idea of users accessing a version of Gemini running in space is some way from coming to fruition.
Putting servers into space does have its issues, not least the problem of getting them there. Radiation and computers don't get along, and the radiation found in space can cause "bit flips" that change the way chips process data. Google's answer, for now, is to restart the chips every so often to reset them. The company has also devised a cooling system that will vent heat directly into space — since the usual fan-based solution simply won't work without any air.
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Despite these accommodations, the four chips in Google's test satellite will still get too hot, too quickly. They'll only be able to run for around 15 minutes before they need to be shut down to allow them to cool off.
Regardless, it's still early days for the concept of running servers in space. Google plans to launch a pair of satellites next, with long-term plans for networked fleets of more than 80 satellites also already floated.
By Manyika's estimation, Google has 15 years to go from a four-chip server to a full-on data center. The clock is ticking.
Oliver Haslam has written about technology of all shapes and sizes for over 15 years, both online and in print. He's fascinated by how personal computing continues to change as tower PCs give way to foldable phones and beyond.
OK, spend 10 million $ to launch a single server into space to cut down on cooling costs. 1K watts will not even power a single power supply on a regular server.
OK, spend 10 million $ to launch a single server into space to cut down on cooling costs. 1K watts will not even power a single power supply on a regular server.
They’re trying to find out how compute in space could work, nobody suggested this experiment would be a cost effective way to run a server.
This madnesses about sending servers, data centers must STOP. there is no logic in this, there is no any gains...instead physics problems and huge costs. These SCAM companies must be blocked from getting financials. Same story with solar streets ...Jesus..humanity is overrated!!
These SCAM companies must be blocked from getting financials.
It would be nice if was just these scam AI companies. It would be even better if it was just the large individual investors that would lose all their money when this fails.
This company is google so if they would fail it will take much more than just their AI stuff down. All kinds of companies like nvidia and other have in effect given loans of equipment to all the AI companies. You have very large investment firms like softbank taking out corporate bonds and then lending money to AI companies. You even have local government that are subsidizing data centers hoping to make a profit in the future. Many times people do not even know they have investments in AI companies. One of the large teachers union pension funds owns a large amount of softbank shares for example. When some of the large AI guys eventually fail it is going to have a massive impact on the world economy.
Why???!!!! there is no logic and business sense to do that! Why we spend lots of money for ideas which are more difficult than here on Earth. Same story with solar street panel ... humanity is overrated
