Google's Gemma 3 model runs on satellite for onboard AI inference

By PulseAugur Editorial · [1 sources] · 2026-06-19 13:37

Loft Orbital has deployed Google's Gemma 3 vision-language model on its YAM-9 satellite, marking the first time such a model has been used for onboard inference in orbit. This allows the satellite to process visual data directly in space, rather than transmitting all raw imagery back to Earth. By enabling the satellite to identify and prioritize important information, this advancement significantly reduces bandwidth and latency requirements, optimizing the use of scarce and costly downlink windows. AI

IMPACT Enables more efficient satellite operations by reducing bandwidth and latency through edge inference in orbit.

RANK_REASON Deployment of an AI model on a satellite for onboard inference.

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AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 1 sources. How we write summaries →

Google's Gemma 3 model runs on satellite for onboard AI inference

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r/singularity TIER_2 English(EN) · /u/Justgototheeffinmoon · 2026-06-19 13:37

A satellite is now running Google's Gemma 3 vision-language model in orbit, doing onboard inference instead of downlinking everything first

<div class="md"><p>Loft Orbital's YAM-9 is running Gemma 3 onboard, reportedly the first vision-language model deployed in orbit. Rather than streaming every image down for ground analysis, the satellite reasons about what it is seeing in space and decides what is …

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A satellite is now running Google's Gemma 3 vision-language model in orbit, doing onboard inference instead of downlinking everything first

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