Google is preparing to launch its first experimental satellite into low Earth orbit to test whether artificial intelligence chips can operate reliably in the harsh conditions of space, the company's latest step toward a long-term ambition of running AI computing beyond Earth's atmosphere.
The spacecraft, named MVP, is scheduled to lift off on October 1 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission is part of a broader Google initiative called Project Suncatcher, which explores the feasibility of processing AI workloads in orbit rather than in power-hungry terrestrial data centers.
MVP is not a full data center but an experimental prototype. It carries four of Google's custom tensor processing units, or TPUs, roughly equivalent in computing power to a single server. Its solar panels generate about one kilowatt of electricity, and the satellite is designed for one year of active operation, though it is expected to remain in orbit for up to six years before burning up in the atmosphere under Earth's gravity.
Before launch, the hardware underwent radiation testing at the Crocker Nuclear Laboratory. Using a cyclotron, engineers exposed the chips to a dose equivalent to five years in space. The tests showed that radiation-induced errors could be cleared by rebooting the chips, a finding that supports the viability of off-world AI computing.
Because fans cannot operate in the vacuum of space, the team developed a passive heat conduction system. A layer of thermal interface grease sits beneath the motherboard, contacting layers of aluminum and copper that channel heat to a radiator panel, which dissipates it into open space. The chips can run continuously for about 15 minutes before needing to cool down, a window the company says is sufficient to handle short queries to its Gemini model.
The idea for the project came from Google vice president Blaise Agüera y Arcas, who proposed it roughly three years ago amid rising energy costs for AI. In May 2025, Google co-founder Sergey Brin and CEO Sundar Pichai approved the initiative. To accelerate the launch and avoid waiting until 2027, Google partnered with Planet Labs, installing its processors on an already-built satellite from the partner company.
Google plans to launch a pair of satellites next year and is developing concepts for constellations of more than 80 spacecraft to coordinate computing in orbit. The company is also discussing with engineers the creation of a custom satellite as long as a football field. Executives emphasize that these are long-term research efforts rather than imminent products.
The mission reflects a growing interest in space-based computing as AI's energy demands strain terrestrial infrastructure. By testing whether TPUs can survive radiation and extreme temperatures, Google aims to determine whether orbit could one day host part of the infrastructure that powers its AI services.