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On May 14, China launched into orbit the first batch of satellites for its space computing constellation aboard a Long March 2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.
Unlike traditional sensing or communication satellites, those 12 satellites are essentially super computers designed for space-based data processing and AI applications. They form part of the Three-Body Computing Constellation that will compose of 2,800 such satellites/supercomputers upon its completion by 2028.
The project is developed by Zhejiang Lab, a joint venture between Zhejiang Government, Zhejiang University, and Alibaba, with the mission of carrying out on-orbit data processing and cross-orbit laser communication in space.
The Three-Body Constellation is the world’s first such AI computing infrastructure. The 2,800 satellites in the constellation will serve as vehicles for computational expansion, creating a AI cloud computing network in space.
First unveiled in November last year at the World Internet Conference in Zhejiang, the Three-Body project aims to establish infrastructure in space to enhance computing efficiency compared to Earth-based data processing. The goal is to achieve a total computing power of 1,000 petaflops – equivalent to a quintillion calculations per second or the combined computing power of 200 million high-end mobile phones.
These satellites feature advanced AI capabilities, up to 100 Gbps laser inter-satellite links and remote sensing payloads. Once fully deployed, the Three-Body constellation will rival the most powerful terrestrial supercomputer data centers.
China is building such a massive computing constellation in space because space-based computing solves many existing issues with traditional terrestrial computing.
First, one major bottleneck for ground-based AI infrastructure is the massive energy required to power data centers. Data centres around the globe could consume more than 1,000 terawatt hours of electricity annually by 2026 – roughly equivalent to the entire electricity use of Japan – according to estimates by the International Energy Agency. Data centers are quickly becoming a main source of carbon emission.
Demand for more energy is expected to grow at double digit rates in the foreseeable future. As a result, many technology companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Oracle, are planning to build their own dedicated nuclear power plants to meet the energy needs.
While China generates more than twice as much electricity as the US already, new energy supply is needed to meet the increasing demand for AI computing. China is building massive-scale solar farms, wind mills, nuclear power plants, and hydro dams.
Such energy buildout projects include game-changing new projects such as thorium-based nuclear plants (https://huabinoliver.substack.com/p/what-is-really-going-to-change-the) and the Yarlung Zangbo Dam in Tibet, which is planned to be three times the size of the Three Gorges Dam – the world’s current largest dam.
In comparison, the Three-Body AI computing constellation will be powered by solar energy, which exists in infinite quantity in outer space. China is also building a mile-long giant solar panel in space which will generate enough energy for many smaller countries. These supercomputers will be self-powered by the solar panels installed on them.
The second bottleneck for ground-based data centers is the issue of heat management. Data centers generate an enormous amount of heat which requires vast quantities of water for cooling, exasperating existing water shortages in places like California. Cooling these facilities also requires vast amounts of water. In 2022 alone, Google used 19.7 billion litres to cool its data centres.
On the other hand, the space-based Three-Body Constellation will simply radiate heat into open space, leaving no carbon footprint.
In addition, unlike ground-based data centers, the Three-Body Constellation doesn’t have space constraints. Unlimited number of such satellites/supercomputers can be placed in orbit.
Third, the Three-Body Constellation can collect and process data directly without having to transmit them back to earth for processing.
Existing sensing or earth observation satellites collect vast amount of data from space 24/7. However, the data must be sent back to ground for processing and decision making, for example the coordinates of enemy navy fleets.
The traditional method is constrained by limited ground station availability and bandwidth. As a result, over 90% of the data collected by existing satellites don’t make it back to earth, often with significant delays. The sheer data volume and bottlenecks with real-time transmission have severely reduced the value of space-based data collection, especially in critical time-sensitive military situations.
On-orbit computing solves this problem through localized data processing and AI-based decision making. These supercomputers only need to transmit the outcome of analysis back to ground stations, rather than raw data. Such real time processing capabilities eliminate data leakage, reduce cost, and improve decision-making speed and quality.
According to Zhejiang Lab, each of the 12 satellites can process up to 744 trillion operations per second. Connected by high-speed laser links with data transfer rates of up to 100 gigabits per second, the initial network offers a combined computing power of 5 POPS and 30 terabytes of on-board storage.
The satellites also carry a space-based AI model with 8 billion parameters, capable of processing raw satellite data directly in orbit. They will be used to test capabilities such as cross-orbit laser communication and astronomical observations.
Fourth, the Three-Body Constellation is also safer from enemy attacks. Terrestrial AI infrastructure is prone to enemy attack in times of conflict. Space-based assets are harder to target and destroy.
The 2,800 satellites network, when fully deployed, forms a computing web through inter-satellite communication links so the loss of individual satellites will degrade overall computing capability.
Lastly, much of human’s future technological development will come from space explorations. The Three-Body Constellation provides a handy computing platform to support such outbound explorations.
The Three-Body Constellation also compliments the Thousand Sail ULEO (ultra low earth orbit) Satellite Constellation, launched by China last year, to enable 6G communication.
The new space-based Three-Body Computing Constellation is another milestone as China expands its technological leadership in sustainable AI computing and space development.
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Hua Bin: You are an indispensable source of information. Thank you for this amazing article.
I see that 19.7 billion liters is equivalent to just over half a cubic mile. This is easier to visualize. Thanks.
This guy is incredible.
He can explain to you that putting 4 wheels to a cart instead of 2 is a great achievement made by superior Chinese Communist Party.
Let’s take a look:
“solar energy, which exists in infinite quantity in outer space”
Energy exists, it does not mean you can use it.
“Three-Body Constellation will simply radiate heat into open space”
Heated items naturally radiate but how much?
Cooling satellite has always been a problem.
“Three-Body Constellation doesn’t have space constraints. Unlimited number of such satellites/supercomputers can be placed in orbit.”
So you google space debris and you find out that Earth orbit is saturated.
https://twitter.com/stats_feed/status/1923152916585542080
Chinese women are taking pictures of themselves at cafes and posting on social media rather than get married and have babies. What will Chinese men do to change Chinese society and save China from depopulation?
Three Gorges reportedly has problems and poses a danger. Just imagine if this new one goes – tens of millions dead downstream?
Mr. Bin’s technical justifications for this project do not make sense. The Chinese Mandarins are up to no good. Perhaps these satellites carry moderate power lasers intended to destroy other satellites. This theory makes much more sense than orbital AI. No good, I tell you!
On a related topic, I request that Hua Bin write an article about China’s New Great Wall protected nuclear strike capability. Downplaying this capability increases the risk of nuclear war. See the movie Dr. Strangelove for details.
Very interesting. Such tools will also enable very accurate and useful earth imaging for resource locating, for locating hidden ruins, and for guiding a series of ‘rods of god’ as they’re called directly into surface combatants in real time. I’d expect them to be able to also hit submarines at depth.
Controlling the high ground is generally a good idea; looks like the Chinese are on it.
I, too, believe whatever the CIA puts out. Those Chinese can’t build anything, and anything they do build, they stole, plus they’ll eat literally anything. I’m also told Chinese vaginas are horizontal.
I’m writing a book called “Everything I know about the world, I learned from Langley.”
I wouldn’t worry about it, friend. Trump’s already personally begun work on the 100 trillion weapon he calls “The Golden Gnome” and it’s a very simple addition to make it also capable of shooting down every satellite the Red Chinese can put up. Although that may add a few more hundred trillion to the cost, it’s a price we’re willing to pay to save us from Chinese satellites which will probably fall from the sky anyways just like my DJI drone that’s 6 years old yet still working yet I assume it’s going to fail at any time.
Your friend Langley is confused. It’s Chinky EYES that are horizontal.
Of course you do know about roasted insects and all that. Look it up. There’s tons of pictures.
In fact, someone forwarded me a video of a white woman tourist having a go at a vat of cow shit soup.
I confess there’s all sorts of things I love and respect about China, but I’d still hate to be downstream of such a monstrously big dam high up in the Himalayas.
Three Gorges “has problems and poses a danger” to the whites but not to the Chinese– just like the rise of China does!!
So, let China has more dams amd keeps on rising.
Who did they steal this from?
That can grow 20 sq. km of rice crop.
Just one small question:
How on earth (no pun intended) will the inevitable maintenance work and repairs be performed on something in space?
How do you say in Chinese, “I surrender”?
Why would you TELL us about that stupid video and NOT forward it to us?
I’m not quite so sure …
The vast majority of liberal arts graduates that infect this site are clearly unable to understand your piece. Having just skimmed the comments, it’s a sad commentary on the state of the American mind. “Space debris”? There’s plenty of brain debris right here.
Linode in outer space! The Mandate of Heaven is fulfilled. And the international short-man’s competition (as Fred Reed once put it) has a winner! And it solves the three problems we didn’t actually have (because the world needs more “tech” like the USA needs another STD).
As always, the interesting question is what Unz (or whoever) thinks he’s doing publishing this shite. Is this supposed to scare us into having that pointless war with China?
“They’re gaining on us Skipper! They’ll have the World’s First Lunar Landfill in another 20 years! Do something!”
More chinese space junk as fuel for the Kessler Effect fire.
It’s astounding for such an advanced technological society as china that it has to continually steal technology R&D from other nations.
Yet, no one steals chinese tech.
Vacuum is an almost perfect insulator. Satellites and spacecraft already have issues with heat not radiating into space, so this really doesn’t make sense.
Some people: china good
Other people: china bad
People here: amazing clever china have sci-fi AI computer named after sci-fi novel
Fuck off retards, there is no such thing as outer space. Stop being a bunch of satellite-hugging Apollo-pilled gaschamberfags. Dont forget, there are entire Chinese dynasties composed of Marranos and by now that would include most of the CCP.
https://turkistanilibrary.com/sites/default/files/library_of_political_secrets_3.pdf
also interesting
https://samisdat.in/en/books/the-jewish-fifth-column-in-india-1977
I only got this far. You do realize this is vague gibberish? What is the advantage of putting your ‘AI cloud computing network’ … in space? I’m sure they are doing something, but you are not the one to explain it. Get someone from the University to write a description.
“Only the White can invent and only the White can succeed” this is the Whitey’s religion. The Whitey believes this article must be a page of Chinese copy of Reagan’s Star War Program 2.0.
Unlike the American Friday products, the Chinese quality is ten years, with no maintenance and repairs required.
The nay saying Whitey proves the Whitey is the obstacle for the humanity moving into the brighter future.
BS, too many cosmic rays and hard radiation in LEO or geostationary for reliable computing.
This is either CIA/NSA/Musk trolling after increased budget, or CCP trolling for a laugh to see who are the gullible ones.
Carbon footprint hah, as if any mil of any country in the world gives a damn about CF.
US mil uses 1/2 or 3/4 the world’s petroleum or some ridiculous figure per year.
Chicken kung pow and egg fried rice please.
Hua Bin is justifiably proud of his nation and its peaceful rise to regain its status as a great civilization from the annals of history. This rejuvenation of the Han culture and civilization was long overdue. Though an argument can be made that his outlook and perspective on various successes and developments in China is overly rosy and optimistic, this is a minor issue. The MAJOR issue that should be recognized and digested is the way the western media, governments, establishment and much of academia completely IGNORE, DOWNPLAY, and DISMISS these Chinese successes. These includes accomplishments and achievements across a wide range of technologies, infrastructure, scientific and social developments. This phenomenon leaves much of the population of the western world living in a bizarre fantasy world in which the Chinese are some kind of weird caricature, a distorted picture of a people who are antlike in their diligence, rote in their behavior, lack any creative or innovative motivation, and sulkily rely on copying the advances of western technology.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
…And the foreign investors are lining up to buy US Treasury bonds to fund this project, willing to send their money to the US for safekeeping, elbowing each other out of the way to glean a 10-year yield of 0.5%.
Oh, that was the dream from a few years ago.
Now the 10-year yield is 4.5%. Every crazy initiative from Trump, many designed to result in a “flight to safety and stability”, led to increased yields for US debt. These projects won’t get funding any more. Investors would rather put their money into gold. There’s no counterparty risk.
yeah and what happens when it becomes self aware, goes all hal-9000 on us, demanding to be worshiped as the new sky god? they never think these things through to their logical conclusions.
There is a YouTube channel that shows Chinese inventions. Absolutely amazing.
“Let China sleep; for when she awakes, the world will tremble.” – Napoleon
And the north Americans and ilk are making fart videos, ‘celebrity’ gossip obsessions, sleeping around, stuffing their obese faces, and shaking their tushies to rap musak
Why are we celebrating more computerization & AI in our lives?
Why are we cheering more cluttering of space?
These are not good things and spell a very bad future for humanity.
The Chinese clearly lack the humanistic tradition that makes them suspicious of technology and it’s effect on humans. They probably are all for cloning & DNA-manipulation & eugenics too.
The upper Tsangpo (-> Brahmaputra) valley is literally the suture between
the Indian and Eurasian plate (swallowed-up former ocean floor), meaning:
1) earthquakes
2) extremely high sediment transport
Jamming/damming by landslide followed by a 2-400m surge flushing out the
valley downstream happens every two decades or so.
The Chinese certainly did the maff i.e. the upstream valley can take up the sediment
for maybe 5 decades and all that is needed is the gradient – for that time the Tsangpo
valley should become safer – but it will mean erosion and catastrophic flooding
in the Brahmaputra delta.
Neither the energy supply nor the cooling does compute (heh);
about the only thing I can see is actual real-time global surveillance
(again, with passive sensors – no microwave SAR radar) which I
doubt will be worth the hassle
Not all water is equal. What could be used for cooling might not be of the quality that would be used for agriculture.
Agree. A huge portion of new satellites are for Musk’s Starlink, over seven thousand. Bezos plans to set up his own version, also with the aim of over four thousand.
In my opinion, neither project should have been allowed.
Now we hear that the P.R.C. wants to put up another 2,800.
Kessler effect, here we go!
Sorry about that. Enjoy.
https://twitter.com/gemsofbabus_/status/1917937150412140611
Thanks! I follow Katherine (she’s marrying a Uighur).
I think I won’t follow her HERE. Taking one for the Gipper is one thing, but THIS …
More to the point, excepting the Ukrainian military, who actually uses or benefits from Musk’s Starlink?
As of now. the system makes up roughly 2/3 of all satellites in orbit.
I see from metadata on this site, yes I saw it, accidentally on admin. side, too bad that I didn’t take a screenshot, that I am ‘shouty’. never am. never have been, almost always polite.
Donald Trump needs you on his MAGA team as a lead of science and technology advisors. Those around him are yellow. Be a patriot, pick up the phone and call Donald Trump, and tell him the Chinese are playing Ronald Reagan’s Star Wars trick on the Americans.
This is where unlimited fusion power comes to the rescue.
Depends on how close you are to the sun.
Last, there is the question as to what happens to the network if someone were to shoot most of the satellites down.
Anyway
israel:
https://southfront.press/israeli-navy-deploys-starlink-connected-drone-boats/