SpaceX designed an orbital Vera Rubin. Radiation comes next (thenewstack.io)

SpaceX and Nvidia have announced plans to adapt the Vera Rubin NVL72 rack-scale AI platform for use in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), with the first launch targeted for the fourth quarter of 2027. This collaboration aims to create a space-optimized version of the NVL72, which features 72 Rubin GPUs and 36 Vera CPUs, integrating advanced networking components. By pioneering the deployment of a modified AI data center architecture in space, they aim to facilitate AI computing capabilities onboard satellites, expanding Nvidia’s technology into a new frontier. This ambitious project presents significant challenges, particularly in cooling systems and radiation tolerance. SpaceX’s proposed design incorporates a closed-loop liquid cooling mechanism and deployable radiators to efficiently dissipate heat in the vacuum of space. However, making the NVL72 radiation-tolerant necessitates extensive redesigns of the system to withstand the harsh conditions of LEO, where electronics are vulnerable to cumulative radiation damage over time. The initiative is poised to explore viable solutions to these critical issues, potentially reshaping the future of AI applications in space while also advancing terrestrial technology methodologies.