There’s a lot of radiation in space. It affects not only the human body but also electronic circuits, especially ones made up of very small elements. Therefore, creating powerful computing instruments that could work freely in orbit is a challenge that NASA is just beginning to tackle.
Protecting computers from ionizing radiation
Onboard computers are critical to space exploration, assisting in nearly every function of a spacecraft, from propulsion and navigation systems to life support technology, scientific data retrieval and analysis, communications, and reentry.
But computers in space are vulnerable to ionizing solar and cosmic radiation. Just one high-energy particle can cause what is known as the “single event effect,” causing minor data errors that lead to cascading failures, system malfunctions, and irreversible damage. NASA has long sought cost-effective solutions to mitigate the effects of radiation on computers to ensure safety and mission success.
Radiation-resistant computer — RadPC
Join a demonstration of radiation- resistant computer (RadPC) technology, one of 10 NASA payloads that will be delivered to the Moon as part of the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. RadPC will be delivered to the lunar surface by Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost 1 lunar lander.
Developed by researchers at Montana State University in Bozeman, RadPC aims to demonstrate computer recovery from failures caused by a single exposure of ionizing radiation. The computer is designed to evaluate its own state in real time using redundant processors implemented on off-the-shelf integrated circuits called field programmable gate arrays.
These tile-like logic blocks can be easily replaced after a confirmed ionizing particle strike. In the event of radiation damage, RadPC’s patented recovery procedures can identify the location of the fault and repair it in the background.
Payload under RadPC CLPS
As an added scientific benefit, RadPC carries three dosimeters to measure different levels of radiation in the lunar environment, each tuned to different levels of sensitivity. These dosimeters will continuously measure the interaction between Earth’s magnetosphere and the solar wind as it moves toward the Moon. They will also provide detailed radiation information about Blue Ghost’s lunar landing site at Mare Crisium, which could help keep future Artemis astronauts safe.
“This is the first RadPC mission, so to speak, in the wild,” said Dennis Harris, who leads the payload for the CLPS initiative at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “The RadPC CLPS payload is a great opportunity to test a radiation- resistant computer variant that could make future missions from the Moon to Mars safer and more cost-effective.”
According to phys.org
