The experimental processor, being developed under NASA’s High Performance Spaceflight Computing project, is intended to deliver a transformational leap in onboard computing capability for spacecraft operating in some of the harshest environments imaginable.
Unlike conventional terrestrial processors, which can be rapidly repaired or replaced, spaceflight computers must survive years and sometimes decades of exposure to radiation, extreme temperatures and the vacuum of space without human intervention.
To achieve that, NASA and industry partner Microchip Technology are developing a new radiation-hardened “system-on-a-chip” processor capable of delivering up to 100 times the computing power of existing space-qualified systems, while some early testing suggests performance may ultimately reach far beyond that figure.
The processor is currently undergoing extensive testing at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, where engineers are exposing the hardware to simulated spaceflight conditions, including radiation bombardment, thermal extremes and intense shock testing.
“We are putting these new chips through the wringer by carrying out radiation, thermal and shock tests while also evaluating their performance through a rigorous functional test campaign,” said project manager Jim Butler.
But the stakes are high.
Current spacecraft processors are intentionally conservative designs, often based on decades-old architectures prioritised for reliability rather than performance. While those systems have served NASA well, future missions involving autonomous navigation, artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and real-time scientific analysis will require exponentially more capable onboard computing systems.
“Building on the legacy of previous space processors, this new multicore system is fault-tolerant, flexible and extremely high-performing,” said Eugene Schwanbeck, program element manager within NASA’s Game Changing Development program.
“NASA’s commitment to advancing spaceflight computing is a triumph of technical achievement and collaboration,” he added.
The processor has reportedly already demonstrated extraordinary performance during early evaluation, with NASA indicating the chip may be operating at around 500 times the performance of some radiation-hardened processors currently used in orbit.
In a symbolic nod to the early days of computing, engineers began testing with an email carrying the subject line “Hello Universe”, echoing the famous “Hello World” test messages used by generations of software developers.
The compact processor integrates all the major components of a computer, including processing units, memory, networking and input-output systems, into a single chip small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. Similar “system-on-a-chip” designs are common in smartphones and tablets; however, NASA’s version is engineered to survive deep-space conditions for years without maintenance.
The technology is expected to underpin a new generation of highly autonomous spacecraft capable of making decisions independently when communications delays prevent real-time control from Earth. Such capabilities are increasingly viewed as essential for future missions operating millions or even billions of kilometres from Earth.
NASA said the processor could eventually be integrated into Earth-observing satellites, planetary rovers, crewed lunar habitats and deep-space exploration missions.
The program also highlights the growing convergence between civil space exploration, defence technology and commercial aerospace innovation.
Samples of the processor have already been distributed to defence and aerospace partners, with potential future applications extending into aviation, automotive manufacturing and advanced industrial systems on Earth.
The High Performance Spaceflight Computing project is managed by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate and developed in partnership with JPL and Microchip Technology, which was selected for the project in 2022.
For NASA, the processor represents more than just faster computing power, it is a critical enabling technology for the next generation of autonomous exploration, supporting ambitions for sustained human and robotic operations across the solar system.
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