Google Project Suncatcher prototype satellite is in orbit

Why it matters

【What it is】

Project Suncatcher, built with Planet, is in orbit on SpaceX Transporter-18. Contact is confirmed, and it is operating as expected.

This is the first step of long-term research on scalable machine learning in space. Coming weeks cover how the TPUs handle radiation and heat. A peer-reviewed paper is in Joule.

【Verifiable】

Primary: https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/google-research/project-suncatcher-prototype/

The page names Planet, Transporter-18, contact, expected operation, TPU radiation and heat, and a paper in Joule.

【Our read】

A space-compute prototype is in orbit, with a primary source and a paper. Not a new model, and no performance numbers others can reproduce.