China starts building world-first supercomputer in orbit, launches key satellites

Twelve satellites, part of China's ambitious "Three-Body Computing Constellation," rocketed into orbit last week, marking a bold step towards the world's first space-based supercomputer. The constellation, potentially comprising thousands of satellites, aims to achieve a staggering 1,000 peta operations per second.

"Even a single satellite can generate value," says Wang Jian, director of Zhejiang Lab, the project's lead institute. "This has profound implications for the future of the space industry."

The initial satellites boast 5 POPS of computing power and 30 terabytes of storage, capable of real-time data processing in orbit. This leap in space-based computing could revolutionize everything from scientific research to military applications.

As China races ahead, the U.S. and Europe are playing catch-up. While they've tested edge computing in space, China's collaborative effort appears to be the first large-scale AI constellation deployment, potentially opening a new frontier in strategic competition.