Google is in talks with SpaceX for a rocket launch deal as the search giant expands its own efforts to put orbital data centers in space, according to people familiar with the discussions. A launch deal would put the two companies in partnership as they gear up to compete on orbital data centers, an unproven technology that SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk has said is the next frontier for his rocket company. Google is also in discussions about a potential deal with other rocket-launch companies, one of the people said. The speculative technology has been at the center of SpaceX’s pitch to investors ahead of its planned public listing this summer, which is anticipated to be the largest IPO of all time.

Full report : Google is in talks with SpaceX and other companies for a rocket launch deal, as Google expands its own efforts to put orbital data centers in space.