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Can Smart Computer Chips Work in Space? 🚀

Google is trying out its Tensor Processing Unit chips on a small satellite that will travel around Earth.

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Key Points

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Project Suncatcher is scheduled to launch on a Space Exploration Company (SpaceX) Transporter‑18 mission.

A prototype satellite will carry the Tensor Processing Units into low Earth orbit.

The experiment will test the chips' ability to operate in space conditions.

Successful results could allow many satellites to share Artificial Intelligence processing power.

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The goal is to see if these chips can keep working while floating in orbit, where there is lots of sunlight.

If they succeed, future satellites could join together to run many Artificial Intelligence jobs.

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6 words

Tensor Processing Unit

A powerful chip that helps computers solve problems quickly.

Artificial Intelligence

Computer systems that can learn and make decisions.

orbit

The curved path a satellite follows around a planet.

satellite

A device placed in space that can send and receive information.

low Earth orbit

A region of space close to the Earth where many satellites travel.

prototype

An early model built to test a new idea.

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