Commentary: Google’s Project Suncatcher would put AI data centers in space, raising debris concerns

Summary

An analysis on Australian site Switzer describes Google’s Project Suncatcher, a proposal to launch an 81‑satellite constellation into low Earth orbit to power future AI data centers directly in space using abundant solar energy. While the approach could ease pressure on terrestrial energy and cooling infrastructure as AI compute demand soars, the article warns that placing dense AI infrastructure in already crowded sun‑synchronous orbits could exacerbate space‑debris risks and edge low Earth orbit toward Kessler‑syndrome conditions.