Google’s Project Suncatcher | 18 Dec 2025

Source: IE

Why in News? 

Google has announced Project Suncatcher, a long-term research initiative to test solar-powered data centres in space, with the first experimental launches planned for 2027.

Summary 

  • Google’s Project Suncatcher aims to develop solar-powered data centres in space using satellite constellations equipped with AI chips and laser-based communication to process data directly in orbit. 
  • The initiative seeks to cut the rising energy burden of Earth-based data centres, support climate-friendly computing, and reshape digital and space governance under the Outer Space Treaty, 1967. 

What is Google’s Project Suncatcher? 

  • About: The project aims to test solar-powered data centres in space by deploying small computing racks on satellites, with Google planning to launch two prototype satellites by early 2027 as part of a learning mission in partnership with Planet Labs, an Earth imaging company. 
    • It will rely on Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), Google’s patented custom chips designed for high-volume, low-precision Artificial Intelligence (AI) processing, and use laser-based optical links to interconnect satellites into a constellation capable of data centre–level computation. 
  • Functioning of Data Centres in Space: 
    • Solar energy generation: Satellites will use continuous solar radiation to power computing systems, reducing dependence on Earth-based electricity. 
    • Onboard AI computing: Each satellite will carry AI chips (such as TPUs/GPUs) to process data directly in space rather than transmitting everything to Earth. 
    • Satellite Constellations: Multiple satellites will work together as a distributed data centre, sharing workloads across nodes. 
      • Inter-satellite laser communication will enable high-speed, low-latency data transfer within the constellation. 
    • Edge Processing in Space: Data from satellites (e.g., Earth observation) will be processed in orbit, reducing bandwidth needs and response time. 
    • Radiation-hardened Systems: Hardware will be designed to withstand radiation, vacuum, and temperature extremes. 
    • Downlink to Earth: Processed data will be selectively transmitted to ground stations, minimising data load and latency challenges. 
  • Significance of Data Centres in Space: 
    • Reduces pressure on Earth-based data centres, lowering demand for electricity and water amid the AI boom. 
      • Goldman Sachs estimates that electricity demand from data centres may rise by 165% by 2030. 
    • Enables clean, solar-powered computing, supporting climate mitigation efforts. 
    • Offers potential solutions to data sovereignty constraints, as outer space is not subject to national jurisdiction under Outer Space Treaty, 1967. 
    • Improves resilience of digital infrastructure against natural disasters, cable cuts, and power outages on Earth. 
    • Marks a shift toward next-generation space-based digital infrastructure, with implications for global AI, cloud computing, and governance.

Data Centres 

  • About: Data centres are specialised facilities that store, process, and manage large volumes of digital data using servers, storage, networking, and supporting systems for power, cooling, and security.  
    • They provide reliable and scalable infrastructure for cloud computing, AI, and other digital services. 
  • Global Advancements Towards Data Centres in Space: 
    • OpenAI (Sam Altman):Proposed a Dyson sphere–like network of AI data centres powered by solar energy 
    • Nvidia: Launched the Starcloud satellite carrying the H100 GPU, optimized for AI workloads 
    • Lonestar Data Holdings: Sent a 1 kg mini data centre with 8 TB SSD storage to the Moon 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What is Project Suncatcher? 
Project Suncatcher is Google’s research initiative to test solar-powered data centres in space using satellite-based AI computing systems. 

2. How will data centres function in space? 
They will use continuous solar energy, onboard AI chips, satellite constellations, and laser-based inter-satellite links for distributed computing. 

3. Why are space-based data centres considered climate-friendly? 
They reduce reliance on Earth’s electricity and water resources while using clean, uninterrupted solar power for computing. 

 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) 

Q. With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (2020)

  1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units   
  2. Create meaningful short stories and songs   
  3. Disease diagnosis   
  4. Text-to-Speech Conversion   
  5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy   

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only   

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only    

(c) 2, 4 and 5 only    

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5   

Ans: (d)