Google has completed a major test that strengthens its plan to build machine learning systems beyond Earth. The company confirmed that its Trillium generation Tensor Processing Units were tested inside a particle accelerator to recreate radiation levels found in low Earth orbit.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai shared the early findings in a social media post. He said, “Early research shows our Trillium generation TPUs our tensor processing units purpose built for AI survived without damage when tested in a particle accelerator to simulate low earth orbit levels of radiation.” These chips are designed to speed up artificial intelligence tasks and the test showed they suffered no harm while exposed to space like radiation.
The experiment is part of Project Suncatcher which aims to explore large scale AI computing systems positioned in orbit. The project takes inspiration from Google’s history of bold experimental ideas that try to redefine the limits of technology.
Google said the sun produces far more power than the total electricity used on Earth. This makes space an attractive environment for future computing systems that could rely on continuous solar energy.
Even with this successful test, the company said major engineering challenges still lie ahead. One issue is thermal management because systems in orbit must deal with heat without any natural air movement. Another challenge is proving that hardware can remain reliable during long periods in space.
To continue progress Google plans to send two prototype satellites into orbit. This mission will be carried out with Planet Labs and is targeted for early 2027. It will be a key step in testing how these systems perform outside Earth.
The latest results show early promise for hardware that can operate in extreme environments. As Project Suncatcher moves forward it could change how artificial intelligence systems are powered and deployed far beyond the ground.
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