China has launched the first satellites for its Three-Body Computing Constellation project, aiming to build the world's first space-based supercomputer. A Long March 2D rocket carried twelve AI-powered satellites into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre on May 14. These satellites are designed to process data directly in space using high-speed laser communication links, reducing the reliance on Earth-based data processing and lowering energy consumption.

Each satellite is equipped with intelligent computing systems and high-speed laser communication, marking a shift from traditional methods where data is transmitted back to Earth for processing. According to Jonathan McDowell, a space historian and astronomer at Harvard University, orbital data centers can use solar power and radiate their heat to space, reducing energy needs and the carbon footprint. He also noted that this launch represents the first substantial flight test of the networking part of this concept.

The constellation, developed by Zhejiang Lab, aims to achieve a computing capacity of 1,000 peta operations per second (POPS), or one quintillion operations per second, once fully deployed. For context, the El Capitan supercomputer at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California achieves over 1.72 POPS. The satellites are interconnected through laser links capable of data transfer rates up to 100 gigabits per second. The initial network offers a combined computing power of 5 POPS and 30 terabytes of on-board storage and carries a space-based AI model with 8 billion parameters, enabling it to process raw satellite data in orbit.

Guoxing Aerospace, based in Chengdu, developed the intelligent satellite platforms and oversaw satellite assembly. HiStarlink, a start-up specializing in laser communications, developed the high-speed optical terminals that enable data transfer between the satellites. By processing data directly in orbit, the Three-Body Computing Constellation could alleviate the strain on terrestrial resources and infrastructure. Data centers worldwide are projected to consume over 1,000 terawatt hours of electricity annually by 2026, and cooling these facilities requires vast amounts of water.

This project not only positions China at the forefront of space-based computing but also sets the stage for a new era in how data is processed and managed. The initiative reflects a move towards leveraging space for computational tasks, potentially reducing terrestrial resource consumption and improving data processing efficiency.