A prototype in orbit
Google confirmed the launch of the first Project Suncatcher prototype, developed with Planet, on 1 October 2026. A week earlier, on 24 September, it had described mission preparations and ground checks. The project has now moved into an orbital hardware experiment.
Computing in a space environment
The programme is intended to test TPU operation beyond Earth. It brings together three engineering tasks: electronics resilience in space, heat removal and data transmission. The launch allows the hardware to be studied in its intended environment.
Connecting spacecraft
Google plans to test a laser connection between two satellites in 2027. The link is intended to connect separate computing units into a network. Long-term reliability and operating costs remain subjects of the experiment; the published update establishes the prototype’s launch.
