With the first 12 satellites now in orbit, China begins construction of the world’s first space-based AI supercomputing array.
June 2025 – China has officially launched the opening phase of what could become the world’s most powerful space-based AI supercomputing network, a fleet of satellites designed to process data directly in orbit—dramatically reducing the need to transmit massive datasets back to Earth.
The ambitious program, dubbed the Three-Body Computing Constellation, is a joint venture led by ADA Space and Zhejiang Lab, and could eventually include as many as 2,800 satellites operating in low Earth orbit. The first 12 satellites were deployed on May 14, 2025, via a Long March 2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
🌌 What Makes This Project Groundbreaking?
Unlike conventional satellites that simply collect data and transmit it to ground stations, these new units will perform onboard AI processing using a technique called edge computing. This reduces transmission delays, avoids bandwidth bottlenecks, and improves real-time data utility for both scientific and commercial use.
Each satellite carries a powerful 8-billion parameter AI model capable of 744 tera operations per second (TOPS). When networked, the constellation’s combined performance exceeds 5 peta operations per second, rivaling terrestrial supercomputers. For context, modern AI laptops like Microsoft’s Copilot+ max out at ~40 TOPS.
The satellites also harness the natural cold vacuum of space for cooling and run on solar power, making them a low-carbon alternative to energy-hungry data centers on Earth.
🔬 More Than Just AI — Scientific and Strategic Ambitions
- One satellite is equipped with an X-ray polarization detector, enabling the study of high-energy cosmic events such as gamma-ray bursts.
- The satellites are expected to interconnect via laser communication, enabling ultra-fast, high-bandwidth data sharing between nodes.
- Inspired by the “three-body problem” in physics (and the acclaimed sci-fi trilogy by Liu Cixin), the constellation aims to model complex systems—both physical and geopolitical.
“It’s time to think about AI in orbit—not just in our laptops,” said Wang Jian, director of Zhejiang Lab, during the Beyond Expo tech summit in Macau. “Space is once again the next frontier for what’s possible in the next 10, 20, or 50 years.”
🌍 A Global Signal: Open Access and Strategic Implications
Though China is spearheading the project, Wang hinted at international collaboration, stating that the platform could eventually be opened to foreign researchers and organizations—a strategic move amid growing competition in space tech between global powers.
While NASA and ESA have both experimented with AI edge computing in orbit, China’s system is the first to scale to an operational multi-node array, representing a leap ahead in the space-based processing race.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has also proposed deploying orbital data centers, citing the massive projected energy demands of AI development. Schmidt warned the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee that data centers may require an additional 96 gigawatts of power globally by 2030, stressing the urgency of innovation.
🛰️ The Bigger Picture: AI, Space, and Strategic Infrastructure
The Three-Body Computing Constellation signals a new chapter in space autonomy and off-planet computation. As Earth-based data centers approach their thermal and energy limits, moving AI workloads into orbit could redefine how humanity manages information, power, and planetary resources.
In parallel, China continues expanding its space footprint—from building lunar power plants with Russia to growing crops aboard the Tiangong space station. This AI constellation may be its most ambitious—and strategically significant—project yet.
đź“‘ Meta Data
- Title: China Launches First AI Supercomputer Satellites in Historic Leap Toward Orbital Computing
- Slug: china-ai-supercomputing-satellites-three-body-constellation
- Meta Description: China has launched the first 12 satellites of a planned 2,800-node space-based AI supercomputer network capable of peta-scale processing in orbit.
- Keywords: China AI satellites, orbital computing, space supercomputer, Three-Body Constellation, ADA Space, Zhejiang Lab, Wang Jian, AI in space, satellite edge computing, Long March rocket, space-based data centers
- Author: SpaceAutonomy.ai Editorial Team
- Publish Date: 2025-06-29
- Image Alt Text: Chinese AI satellite orbiting Earth over nightlit Asia with solar panels and radar dish
- Canonical URL: https://spaceautonomy.ai/articles/china-ai-supercomputing-satellites-three-body-constellation
- Social Media Preview (Open Graph / Twitter):
- og:title: China Launches First AI Supercomputing Satellites in Space
- og:description: The Three-Body Constellation begins with 12 AI satellites processing petaflops of data in orbit—ushering in a new era of space autonomy.
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