On May 20, 2025, China successfully launched twelve satellites as part of the first phase of an ambitious project to establish a space-based computing network powered by artificial intelligence. The operation was conducted by Spacety China under the Star Compute program developed by ADA Space.

The network is expected to eventually include 2,800 interconnected satellites, each equipped with advanced processing units and AI modules, capable of autonomously analyzing data directly in space. The satellites communicate with one another via laser links, forming a distributed system with a combined computing power of 5 POPS (peta-operations per second) and a maximum bandwidth of 100 Gbps.

Unlike traditional systems, this network is designed to reduce reliance on ground-based data centers by processing information directly in orbit. The intended applications are diverse: astronomical observation, gamma-ray burst detection, Earth monitoring, disaster management, urban planning, and even immersive virtual tourism experiences.

The first batch of data collected will be used to build a regional data platform for Neijiang, while a second series of satellites, offering even greater computing capabilities, is already in development. Researchers consider this initiative a major step forward in the convergence of artificial intelligence and space exploration.