China has begun building the world’s first space-based supercomputer using artificial intelligence. Recently, China launched 12 satellites into space to kick off the project, which aims to create a massive AI network far above Earth.
According to Space News, this is just the beginning. China plans to launch a total of 2,800 satellites as part of this mission. The satellites are part of a program called StarCompute, developed by ADA Space, Zhejiang Lab, and Neijiang High-Tech Zone.
What makes these satellites special is their ability to process data directly in space. Unlike regular satellites that send data back to Earth for analysis, these ones are equipped with advanced processors that handle information by themselves. This project is called the first phase of the “Three-Body Computing Constellation.”
Each of the 12 satellites carries an AI model with 8 billion parameters, enabling them to perform up to 744 trillion operations per second. Combined, these satellites can deliver 5 peta-operations per second (POPS), which is far higher than the 40 TOPS needed by Microsoft’s Copilot PCs.
China’s final goal is to reach 1,000 POPS using thousands of these smart satellites. They are also equipped with high-speed laser communication, capable of transferring data at 100 gigabits per second. Together, they have 30 terabytes of shared storage.
These satellites are not just powerful—they’re smart. They also carry scientific tools like X-ray polarization detectors to detect cosmic events such as gamma-ray bursts. According to ADA Space, they can also create 3D digital twin data useful for emergency response, tourism, and gaming industries.
The project is expected to solve common satellite problems like signal delay and limited bandwidth. According to South China Morning Post, this space supercomputer will make communication faster and more reliable.
Space historian and Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell shared with The Verge that these orbital data centers could run on solar energy and release heat into space, reducing energy use and lowering carbon emissions. He also believes similar projects may soon appear in the US and Europe.