China has entered the race to build computing infrastructure beyond Earth, opening up a new direction for artificial intelligence and space technology - Photo: AI
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has just announced that it has successfully launched the first 12 satellites in a plan to build a supercomputer network in space.
This is considered the first step for the "Star Computing" program, with the ambition of forming a network of 2,800 laser-linked satellites that would act as a distributed computing center in orbit, according to Newsweek.
Unlike traditional satellites that mainly serve telecommunications or Earth observation purposes, satellites in the "Star Computing" program will be able to process data directly in space, thanks to an integrated computing system that uses solar energy.
According to CASC, space computing reduces the need for cooling like in terrestrial data centers, thereby saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, this system also helps increase processing speed, reduce latency and minimize the risk of dependence on ground infrastructure, especially in geopolitical conflict situations.
"The construction of the first satellite constellation will lay the foundation for a future computing network that meets the need for real-time data processing in space, giving China an advantage in building a global AI infrastructure," the agency in charge of the program was quoted by China's ST Daily newspaper as saying.
In terms of quantity, China's 2,800-satellite plan is still modest compared to the more than 6,750 satellites of the Starlink network operated by SpaceX (USA). However, the difference lies in the purpose and network structure: while Starlink provides global Internet services, the "Star Computing" network aims to become a space supercomputer serving AI and high-tech applications.
Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (USA), assessed: "Orbiting data centers can exploit solar energy and radiate heat directly into space, helping to save costs and reduce environmental impact. This is an important test step for the extraterrestrial computing model."
The development of computer networks in space not only serves civilian purposes but also has potential for strategic military applications, in the context of increasing technology and space competition between China and the United States.
This event marks a shift from using satellites just to collect data to processing and calculating directly in space, opening a new race between China and the US in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), computing and space technology.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/trung-quoc-bat-dau-tao-sieu-may-tinh-dau-tien-trong-khong-gian-2025051813522999.htm
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