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NASA's New Chip: 500x Faster Spacecraft Brains
15 May
Summary
- New processor offers 500 times more power than current space chips.
- This chip is radiation-hardened and built for extreme space conditions.
- Developed through a NASA partnership with Microchip Technology Inc.
NASA is advancing spacecraft capabilities with a new, high-performance computer chip designed to operate autonomously on missions far from Earth. This next-generation processor is engineered to be radiation-hardened, enabling it to withstand extreme space environments while delivering unprecedented computing power.
Currently undergoing rigorous testing at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the chip has demonstrated performance levels approximately 500 times greater than existing radiation-hardened chips. This leap in processing power is essential for future autonomous spacecraft, enabling faster onboard scientific analysis and supporting crewed missions to the Moon and Mars.
The development is a commercial partnership between NASA and Microchip Technology Inc., a collaboration aimed at accelerating the integration of advanced processing technology into spaceflight. The system-on-a-chip (SoC) design promises greater efficiency and resilience, with potential applications extending to Earth-based industries like aviation and automotive manufacturing.
