NASA tests processor for future deep space

NASA, in collaboration with Microchip Technology, is testing a new generation of space chips that will dramatically increase the computing power of spacecraft. This technology will allow spacecraft to make decisions faster on their own, without waiting for instructions from Earth, which is crucial for missions to the Moon and Mars.

Photo: NASA

A processor that promises to revolutionize space technology is undergoing intensive testing at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. Early tests show that the new chip is nearly 500 times more efficient than current radiation-hardened processors used in space. The project, known as High Performance Spaceflight Computing (HPSC), focuses on creating a special system that can withstand extreme conditions such as high radiation, violent vibrations during launch, and large temperature fluctuations.

Unlike standard commercial chips, this “system on a chip” (SoC) is designed to combine processing units, advanced networking, memory, and input/output interfaces in a single compact unit. The architecture resembles that found in smartphones and tablets, but NAS’s version is purpose-built for environments where failure of the electronics would mean mission-ending.

The main advantage of the new processor is its support for artificial intelligence systems. These will allow vessels to analyze their surroundings, navigate through hazards, and respond to unexpected situations in real time. Current vessels often use outdated hardware, as modern chips have difficulty surviving space radiation, which creates a bottleneck in data processing.

Engineers at JPL subjected the chip to rigorous testing, including thermal shock and electromagnetic interference. They focused on simulating planetary landings, where sensors must process massive amounts of data in an instant. Jim Butler, project manager at JPL, said they were testing hardware that will enable NASA's next big steps.

Microchip Technology, which was selected as a partner in 2022, has invested its own resources in the development alongside NASA. Once certified, the processor will find its way into orbiters, rovers and habitation modules, and the technology is also expected to impact the aerospace and automotive industries on Earth.