Google orbits AI data centers on solar power

google's suncatcher project is working on putting ai data centers in space, powered by solar energy. an experimental satellite called 'mvp' is set to launch on october 1 on a spacex falcon 9 from vandenberg space force base. google vp james manyika says the satellite should pack enough computing power to handle basic ai queries from orbit. however, challenges are significant, including cooling, cosmic radiation, and high launch costs. google manager travis beals estimates 10,000 satellites would be needed to match a single 1-gigawatt data center on earth.