From Earth to Orbit: China’s Ambitious AI Space Computing Project
China is taking computing to new heights—literally. On May 14, China launched a cluster of 12 satellites as part of its “Three-Body Computing Constellation” project, aiming to create a massive space-based supercomputing network.
The project, spearheaded by ADA Space—a startup based in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province—is set to deploy thousands of satellites equipped with artificial intelligence. These satellites are designed to work together, eventually delivering a combined computing capacity of 1,000 peta operations per second (POPS), rivaling some of the world’s most powerful supercomputers.
The satellites operate on a next-generation intelligent platform developed by ADA Space and are fitted with onboard AI computing systems and inter-satellite communication modules provided by Zhejiang Lab, a research institute in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province. This network allows the satellites to process data in real-time while in orbit, thanks to laser links transmitting up to 100 gigabits per second.
“These computing satellites are not only significant for advancing space technologies—such as supporting spacecraft in low-Earth orbit, lunar, and Mars missions—but also open up new possibilities for testing large-scale computing architectures and serving future applications on Earth,” said Zhao Hongjie, executive vice president of ADA Space, in an interview.
Why Bring Computing Power to Space?
As satellite imagery and sensor technologies advance, the volume of data collected in space is skyrocketing. Traditionally, this data is sent back to Earth for processing, leading to latency and bottlenecks.
“If we continue to transmit all that data back to Earth for processing, we face growing latency and bottlenecks,” said Wang Jianyu, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “By processing data in space using AI, we can improve both the efficiency and timeliness of its application across industries.”
Real-time data processing in orbit reduces transmission delays and supports greater autonomy for space systems. This is crucial for applications like autonomous navigation, disaster monitoring, and global AI services.
“The nature of a computing satellite constellation is not about satellites, but computing,” said Wang Jian, director of Zhejiang Lab and founder of Alibaba Cloud, during a recent tech conference in Macao. “Satellites are just a new carrier—much like how personal computers once disrupted mainframes.”
Challenges Ahead
Despite its potential, space computing faces significant challenges. The harsh environment of space—including radiation, microgravity, and extreme temperature changes—requires specialized materials and components to ensure the satellites’ durability and performance.
Cost is another major hurdle. Launching thousands of satellites demands billions of dollars, and China is still developing reusable rocket technology to help reduce expenses. Moreover, satellites have a limited lifespan and need regular maintenance, upgrades, and energy supplies, adding to the long-term costs.
“Building a space computing infrastructure demands substantial resources and cannot rely solely on a few enterprises,” Wang Jianyu emphasized. “It requires broad participation and collective input from across society.”
To tackle these challenges, ADA Space is collaborating with a group of 54 universities, research institutions, and enterprises from around the world. Together, they have launched the “Star Compute” initiative, which aims to build a constellation of 2,800 satellites dedicated to intelligent space-based computing.
This ambitious project could redefine how we handle data, minimize reliance on Earth-based processing, and open up new frontiers in technology and industry.
