# Google thinks SpaceX's Starship has to launch 1,800 times before space data centers get off the ground

> **Publication**: aitalky (Independent AI Journalism)
> **Canonical Citation URL**: https://aitalky.vercel.app/news/google-thinks-spacexs-starship-has-to-launch-1-800-times-before-space-data-centers
> **Original Source**: [TechCrunch AI](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/01/google-thinks-spacexs-starship-has-to-launch-1600-times-before-space-data-centers-get-off-the-ground/)
> **Author**: Tim Fernholz (undefined)
> **Published Date**: Thursday, October 1, 2026
> **Category**: PRODUCTS
> **Tags**: AI, TechCrunch AI, products

## Executive Summary
Google launched its first advanced chip into orbit to pave the way for space data centers



## Full Coverage
Google's prototype of its orbital compute satellite took off today onboard a SpaceX rocket launched from California — the first time the tech giant has sent one of its advanced chips into space

Built by Planet Labs , the satellite will prove that a Google Tensor Processing Unit, its competitor to Nvidia's GPUs, can function in space. That means supplying a kilowatt of continuous power, cooling the chip, and running a series of models through their paces to see if anything goes wrong

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