量子位·2025-11-05 02:08Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the competition between Nvidia and Google in deploying AI computing capabilities in space, highlighting the advancements made by a Chinese company, Starcloud, which has already launched its satellite for this purpose [1][5][31]. Group 1: Company Initiatives - Nvidia has successfully launched the Starcloud-1 satellite equipped with the H100 chip, which weighs 60 kg and is comparable in size to a small refrigerator [7][8]. - Starcloud aims to establish a 5-gigawatt space data center, with plans to start commercial services next year and to send additional satellites into orbit [11][12]. - Google plans to launch its TPU satellites under the "Project Suncatcher," with the first two prototype satellites expected to be launched in early 2027 [14][15]. Group 2: Advantages of Space Deployment - Starcloud claims that the energy cost in space is only one-tenth of that on Earth, even when accounting for launch expenses [21]. - Google estimates that if the cost of launching to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) drops to $200 per kilogram, the annual cost of power per kilowatt could be reduced to $810, comparable to current U.S. data center costs [22]. - Solar energy in space can be harnessed more efficiently, with solar panels potentially generating eight times more energy than on Earth, thus reducing reliance on batteries [24]. Group 3: Technical Challenges and Solutions - Starcloud has developed a vacuum cooling architecture to manage heat from the H100 chip, utilizing high thermal conductivity materials [25]. - Google has successfully tested high-speed optical communication links for satellite clusters, achieving 800 Gbps unidirectional and 1.6 Tbps bidirectional communication [27]. - Both companies acknowledge significant engineering challenges remain, such as thermal management and high-bandwidth ground communication [30]. Group 4: Competitive Landscape - Starcloud's "Three-body Computing Constellation" has already been operational for six months, featuring 12 satellites capable of space computing and interconnectivity, achieving a total in-orbit computing power of 5 Peta Operations Per Second (POPS) [32][34]. - The entry of Nvidia and Google into the space AI race is expected to intensify competition in this emerging sector [35].