China Accelerates 1,000-POPS Space Computing Network as AI Strains Data Centers

3 articles · Updated · CGTN · Jul 2

China is speeding development of space-based computing infrastructure as AI-driven power use, cooling costs and climate risks expose the limits of conventional data centers.
1,000 peta operations per second is the target for Zhejiang Lab's planned Three-Body Computing Constellation, a network of thousands of satellites designed to process data in orbit and return only high-value results.
12 satellites already deployed provide 5 POPS in aggregate, while in-orbit processing can cut bandwidth use by more than 90% and reduce response times from hours to seconds.
100 Gbps inter-satellite laser links, 120 Gbps satellite-to-ground tests and 30-50 millisecond regional latency are part of China's push to build a domestically controlled space-ground computing system.
175,000 satellites may be the safe capacity of low-Earth orbit under current assumptions, underscoring a global race in which China, SpaceX, the EU, Russia and Japan are all pursuing orbital data processing.

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China's Orbital Supercomputer Revolution: The 2,800-Satellite "Three-Body" Constellation and the Future of Space Computing

Overview

China is launching the Three-Body Computing Constellation, an ambitious project to build a network of AI supercomputers in space. The first cluster of 12 satellites has already been deployed, forming the foundation for a planned fleet of 2,800 satellites. Led by ADA Space and Zhejiang Lab, and supported by partnerships with companies like SoftStone and Kepu Cloud, this initiative aims to process data directly in orbit. These collaborations are essential for developing both the space-based and ground-based computing infrastructure, while the satellites efficiently harness solar power to support advanced AI applications.

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