Google launches prototype satellite to test AI chips in space

On October 1, 2025, Google launched a prototype satellite named MVP into low Earth orbit as part of Project Suncatcher. The satellite carries Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) to test their performance in space, including resistance to radiation and extreme temperatures. The mission, which flew on a SpaceX rideshare launch with Planet Labs, is the first step toward building AI data centers in space powered by solar energy. The satellite will answer simple AI queries and operate for a year. Google aims to launch two more satellites in 2027 to test laser communication links.