Google thinks SpaceX’s Starship has to launch 1,600 times before space data centers get off the ground
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Google has successfully launched its first orbital compute satellite, built by Planet Labs, carrying a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) to test AI functionality in space. This mission is part of Project Suncatcher, which aims to develop large-scale compute clusters orbiting Earth using networks of satellites flying in close formation. To ensure the hardware survives the harsh environment, Google conducted rigorous radiation testing and confirmed that error rates for inference workloads remain acceptably low. However, scaling this vision requires significant advancements in launch frequency and cost. In a recent white paper published in Joule, Google estimates that Starship must complete approximately 1,600 launches over ten years to transport the necessary payload volume. The company projects that launch costs could drop to around $200 per kilogram by 2035, driven by SpaceX's historical learning curve. While SpaceX executives have suggested even higher flight rates, Google’s analysis highlights the massive logistical hurdles currently facing space-based data centers.
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