According to the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, Google is negotiating with SpaceX to deploy data centers in space orbit and explore making space a new base for future artificial intelligence computing infrastructure. The report pointed out that the core idea of the discussion between the two parties is to make orbital data centers one of the "lower-cost" options for deploying AI computing resources in the next few years.
The potential partnership comes as SpaceX prepares to move forward with an initial public offering later this year that is expected to be worth as much as $1.75 trillion, and the company is trying to tell a more imaginative growth story to investors. In addition to Google, SpaceX has recently reached a cooperation with the large model company Anthropic, and will use the latter's data center computing power in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, and retains the possibility of further cooperation at the orbital data center level in the future. It is worth mentioning that SpaceX completed the acquisition of xAI in February this year, providing more internal resources for its layout in the fields of AI and computing power.
According to reports, Google is not betting on just one rocket company, SpaceX, but is also maintaining communication with other rocket launch companies. In terms of longer-term planning, Google plans to launch the first batch of prototype satellites as early as 2027 as part of the "Project Suncatcher" announced at the end of last year to explore a new generation of space infrastructure.
Elon Musk has repeatedly "campaigned" for orbital data centers in public, claiming that the cost of operating data centers in space will be lower than that of ground data centers. Advocates also believe that orbital data centers can circumvent the local opposition and public pressure that large-scale new data center projects in the United States often encounter, providing greater freedom for expansion. However, TechCrunch pointed out that if the costs of satellite manufacturing and rocket launch are calculated together, the overall economics of ground data centers at this stage are still significantly better than orbital deployment solutions. The so-called "cheaper" is more based on future expectations.
This is not the first time that Google and SpaceX have had capital and business intersections. According to public regulatory documents, Google invested US$900 million in SpaceX as early as 2015 to provide early financial support for the latter's satellite and space communications business, and also laid the foundation for potential cooperation around space data centers today.