China has officially launched the first phase of a groundbreaking orbital AI supercomputer project, sending 12 satellites into space as part of its ambitious plan to build a network of 2,800 AI-powered satellites.
Developed by ADA Space in collaboration with Zhijiang Laboratory and Neijang High-Tech Zone, the initiative marks a significant leap in space-based computing.
Named the “Star Compute” program, this initiative is at the heart of what ADA Space calls the “Three-Body Computing Constellation.” Each of the 12 satellites launched last week carries an onboard artificial intelligence model with 8 billion parameters and boasts processing power of 744 tera operations per second (TOPS). Collectively, the current constellation is capable of delivering 5 peta operations per second (POPS) — a processing scale far exceeding that of standard Earth-based AI systems, such as Microsoft’s Copilot PCs, which require just 40 TOPS.
Unlike conventional satellites that primarily collect data and send it back to Earth for analysis, the ADA satellites are equipped to process data in orbit. This reduces dependency on ground stations, slashes latency, and addresses bandwidth bottlenecks. ADA Space claims the eventual full network will be capable of achieving 1,000 POPS.
The satellites are interlinked via high-speed laser communications at rates up to 100 Gbps, and share a combined onboard storage of 30 terabytes. They also come equipped with scientific instruments, such as an X-ray polarization detector for observing short-lived cosmic phenomena like gamma-ray bursts.
In addition to scientific exploration, the satellites are designed to generate 3D digital twin data — a feature with potential applications in disaster response, gaming, virtual tourism, and smart city planning.
According to South China Morning Post, one of the driving forces behind this development is the inefficiency of current satellite communication systems, with less than 10 percent of satellite-collected data actually reaching the ground. With bandwidth constraints and limited access to terrestrial ground stations, most data is lost or delayed.
Jonathan McDowell, a space historian and astronomer at Harvard University, told SCMP that orbital data centers could revolutionize space infrastructure. “They can use solar power and radiate their heat to space, reducing the energy needs and carbon footprint,” McDowell explained, adding that both the United States and Europe could soon pursue similar projects.
The ADA Space initiative aligns with China’s broader ambition to lead in both space exploration and artificial intelligence. The Three-Body Computing Constellation — named after Liu Cixin’s famous sci-fi trilogy — is a bold nod to the nation’s vision of blending science fiction with scientific progress.
If completed, the 2,800-satellite supercomputer would not only set new standards in orbital computing but could also redefine how nations gather, process, and act on space-based intelligence in real time.