Google is in negotiations with SpaceX to collaborate on orbital data centers in space, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. A potential deal would mark a partnership between the two competing companies.
Project Suncatcher, which aims to explore the feasibility of space-based data centers, was announced by Google in November 2022. In contrast, SpaceX’s plan to launch 1 million orbital data satellites was revealed by CEO Elon Musk in February 2023. The Journal noted that Google is also engaging with other rocket-launch companies as part of this project.
Google is currently collaborating with Planet Labs to design and build the satellites intended for the space initiative. Both Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, and Musk have suggested that orbital data centers will become a standard method for establishing data centers within a decade. In a Fox News interview, Pichai stated, “There’s no doubt to me that a decade or so away, we’ll be viewing it as a more normal way to build data centers.”
Musk indicated that satellites are likely to become the most affordable way to generate AI compute power within three years. However, experts have raised concerns regarding the feasibility of conducting AI inference in space at scale. They pointed out that GPUs installed in satellites would be exposed to cosmic radiation that could impair their performance. Additionally, cooling those GPUs in space would be challenging due to the difficulty of dissipating heat in a near vacuum.
Finally, deploying millions of satellites in low Earth orbit could have negative consequences for the planet’s atmosphere, as well as endangering safe spacecraft operations.
