Space operations suffer from a persistent technological gap: the computers NASA relies on are built around outdated processors that can withstand the extreme conditions of space but lag far behind the performance of modern chips here on Earth.
Now, NASA is testing a new processor that delivers a 100-fold performance improvement and will be capable of running artificial intelligence models on autonomous spacecraft and on future crewed missions to the Moon and Mars. Among other things, the new technology will allow space missions to respond in real time to critical situations when human intervention is not possible.
Developed under the High Performance Spaceflight Computing program, the chip is currently undergoing testing at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. At the start of the tests, researchers sent an email with the subject line “Hello Universe,” a nod to the test message that became famous at the dawn of the computer revolution.
“Building on the legacy of previous space processors, this new multi-core system is fault-tolerant, flexible, and extremely high-performance,” said Eugene Swanback, the program manager at Langley Research Center. “NASA’s commitment to advancing spaceflight computing represents a triumph of technological achievement and collaboration.”
A System on a Chip
The processor, developed for NASA by Microchip Technology Inc., must pass a rigorous battery of tests involving extreme temperature swings, intense vibrations, and high levels of electromagnetic radiation. It must also demonstrate resilience against bombardment by high-energy solar particles, which can cause errors and force spacecraft into automatic safe mode.
Small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, the new processor is essentially a system-on-a-chip (SoC), integrating a processing unit, memory, a networking unit, and input/output interfaces into a single component. SoCs are widely used in smartphones and Apple computers, and are now set to make their debut in space.
Once certified by NASA, the system will be used in satellites, planetary exploration robots, and deep-space missions. The same technology will also be adapted by Microchip Technology Inc. for terrestrial applications in sectors such as automotive and aviation.
