💢🏳️🌈💬⚡️ Google is in talks with Elon Musk’s SpaceX for a rocket launch deal related to Google’s plans to develop orbital data centers in space.
The proposed partnership would support Project Suncatcher, an initiative to put computing infrastructure in orbit using prototype satellites expected to launch by 2027 in partnership with Planet Labs, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.
SpaceX sees orbital data centers as a major future business area and has already applied to launch up to a million satellites for the concept. Google currently owns about 6.1% of SpaceX and also has representation on the company’s board of directors.
The orbital systems would rely on solar power in space to avoid the limitations of Earth and ground-based energy, and Google is also said to be in talks with additional launch providers.