Data centers, which power artificial intelligence (AI) technology, have faced intense criticism in recent months. Most of the backlash stems from how data centers affect local communities, whether by using enormous amounts of electricity or consuming millions of gallons of water each day.
In an effort to ease that pressure without slowing AI development, Google – along with the satellite imaging company Planet and aerospace giant SpaceX – is exploring a solution that sounds like something out of a science fiction movie: putting data centers in space.
Now, Google isn’t launching an entire data center into space just yet – but on Thursday, it took one small step toward achieving that goal by launching a prototype satellite with specialized computer chips into orbit under a research initiative known as Project Suncatcher.
Project Suncatcher: Data Centers in Space
Google announced that the satellite, which Planet helped build, was launched into space by SpaceX. The Project Suncatcher satellite is “operating as expected,” Google said.
The tech giant explained that the launch marks the “first step in a long-term research moonshot exploring whether space could one day host” data centers. The test will help experts assess how Google’s computer chips “handle the physical stress of spaceflight and the radiation and thermal extremes of space.”
James Manyika, senior vice president for research at Google, indicated it could take more than a decade of research before fully functional data centers are located in space. “We don’t expect, to be perfectly frank, that we’ll have anything usefully operational in the next few years,” he said. Manyika then compared the project to self-driving cars: “Remember how Google was researching for like 15 years, before anything showed up? I think this is going to look like that.”
Data Center Communities
Google, Planet, and SpaceX aren’t the only tech companies looking for ways to combat data center backlash. Amazon recently promised to invest $1 billion over the next five years in local communities affected by its data centers. The funding will support education and job training programs, help address energy costs, protect local water and power resources, and go toward other community needs.
Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman warned that falling behind in data center development – and thereby AI advancement – could put the United States behind in the global AI race “potentially irreparably.”
"There is urgency to this data center buildout because we aren't the only country that sees the benefits of AI for the economy and national security, and the countries that lead in AI will shape it and get the most from it in the short and long run," Garman noted.
Why This Matters
Supporting communities already affected by data centers is important, but moving the facilities into space could offer a more long-term solution. At the end of the day, land and water are finite resources, and data centers require enormous amounts of both to operate. Space, on the other hand, comes with a lot more room to grow, and if tech companies can figure out how to make it work, moving data centers off the planet could ease the local burden while helping solidify the United States’ position as the global leader in artificial intelligence.
4 Questions
The story, in brief
What is Project Suncatcher and what did Google launch into orbit?
Project Suncatcher is Google’s long-term research effort to explore whether space could one day host data centers. Google, with Planet and SpaceX, launched a prototype satellite carrying specialized computer chips into orbit. Google said the satellite is operating as expected.
Why are Google and other tech companies looking at data centers in space?
Data centers have faced criticism because they use enormous amounts of electricity and consume millions of gallons of water each day. Moving them into space could reduce pressure on local communities and offer a longer-term solution because land and water are finite resources. It could also help support continued AI development.
How will Google test whether space-based data centers could work?
The Project Suncatcher test will help experts evaluate how Google’s computer chips handle the physical stress of spaceflight and the radiation and thermal extremes of space. This early launch is meant to study whether the technology can function in orbit. Google described it as the first step in a long-term research moonshot.
When could fully operational Google data centers be located in space?
Google says fully functional data centers in space are not expected in the next few years. James Manyika said it could take more than a decade of research before that becomes possible. He compared the effort to Google’s long research path on self-driving cars.
