Windhoek:Google launched a prototype satellite into orbit on Thursday to evaluate how its Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) operate in space. The satellite, carrying four Google TPUs, was part of SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare mission.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Google has confirmed that contact with the satellite has been established and it is functioning as expected. This launch marks the initial phase of Project Suncatcher, a long-term research initiative in partnership with Planet Labs PBC. The project aims to explore the feasibility of hosting scalable machine learning infrastructure in space.

Over the next few weeks, Google plans to gather data on how its TPUs cope with the conditions of space, including physical stress, radiation, and thermal extremes. This information will assist in refining future designs.

In low Earth orbit, satellites can access nearly continuous sunlight, producing up to eight times more solar power than on Earth. Google suggests that in the future, multiple satellite constellations could be interconnected to handle larger AI workloads in orbit.