AI Data Centers Move to Orbit

Google launched a small satellite carrying TPU chips that will briefly run an AI model to test whether machine‑learning hardware can survive space radiation and thermal extremes while being solar‑powered. The prototype limits runs to 15 minutes because of heat management, and the mission is intended to last about a year while engineers evaluate hardware resilience and operational constraints. — If orbiting AI compute proves viable, it reshapes infrastructure politics (power, spectrum, launch logistics), national security (new chokepoints and asset vulnerability), and regulation (extraterritorial data flows and export controls).