Google is in discussions with SpaceX to launch satellites for orbiting data centers - WSJ

Google is considering a deal with Elon Musk's aerospace company SpaceX to launch satellites as part of its orbital data center project, sources tell The Wall Street Journal. The potential agreement could make the companies both partners and competitors in the new area of space computing, which SpaceX is actively promoting ahead of its expected IPO, the newspaper notes.

Google is discussing with SpaceX the possibility of launching test systems into orbit for space data centers, the WSJ writes, citing sources.

The tech giant has previously said it is exploring agreements with launch services companies, including Planet Labs, for a project called Project Suncatcher, which was announced last year. Google plans to send prototype satellites into orbit by 2027 to test how machine learning works in space.

"We will send small racks with [processors] on satellites, test them, and then start scaling the project," company CEO Sundar Pichai told Fox News in November. He said space data centers could be the "normal way" to build computing infrastructure in a decade.

Orbital data centers are computing facilities placed in space and powered by solar energy. Many industry representatives believe that such systems can solve the problem of land and electricity shortages for AI infrastructure on Earth. At the same time, some experts doubt the technical feasibility of such projects, says WSJ.

Google is one of the investors in SpaceX, its share is 6.1%, and the top manager of the tech giant Don Harrison is on the board of directors of the space company, recalls the publication.

Google declined to comment to the WSJ, and SpaceX was unable to respond promptly.

SpaceX has been aggressively expanding projects at the intersection of space and AI in recent months. Last week, the company announced an agreement with Anthropic to provide computing power on Earth. As part of the deal, Anthropic also expressed interest in collaborating on orbital data centers.

The head of the company Elon Musk has previously called orbital computing the next major stage in the development of the space industry. For SpaceX, this area has become one of the key topics in talks with investors ahead of its planned IPO, which could be the largest offering in history. Musk is obsessed with the idea that SpaceX could be the first to put data centers for artificial intelligence in space, the WSJ wrote in January. It's that goal, according to the newspaper, that has prompted him to accelerate his plans to go public.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor