The NASA Glenn Research Center is involved in defining next-generation communication architectures for space exploration. These architectures are examining the use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) mobile router hardware to provide communication networking interoperability among space systems. To be fully successful, COTS electronics and software require rigorous analysis and testing to determine if they can be used in extreme space environments. Glenn’s Satellite Networks and Architectures Branch in conjunction with Zin Technologies performed radiation susceptibility testing and analyzed results to determine the feasibility of COTS mobile-router hardware for space applications.
Analytical radiation exposure for lunar orbit mission scenario--one of the space mission scenarios analyzed for radiation exposure levels.
Of all electronic components, semiconductors are the most sensitive to radiation. Radiation can cause both permanent and temporary damage to asemiconductor device. The most effective way to determine the effects of radiation on microelectronics is to test the devices in radiation environments. Analyses were completed to determine radiation exposure levels to various sensitive electronic components of the mobile router hardware for a number of space missionscenarios (see the graphs). These analytical levels were used when the electronics were exposed to a proton beam at the cyclotron facility at Indiana University (see the photograph). During the test, failure data were used to statistically calculate the mean time between failures. With the exception of one component, the mobile router electronics demonstrated a high immunity to radiation exposure. If alternatives are found for the poorly performing component, the mobile router could prove to be a good candidate for noncritical space applications. It should be noted that software was not verified in this research. The demands for the verification and validation of space-rated software systems could limit the use of many COTS products in high-reliability space applications. COTS softwarereliability requires further investigation.
Mobile router hardware test setup in front of the proton beam.
The analysis and testing of commercial mobile router technology has demonstrated that this technology, with appropriate component replacement, could be a strong candidate for distributing general data among space assets. This could be applied to onboard data systems for habitat and research modules in future space exploration initiatives.
The mobile-router feasibility study was funded by the NASA Electronics Parts Program and the Space Communications Applied Systems & Technologies Program of the former Space Communications Office.
Glenn contact: David Andrew Carek, 216-433-8396, David.A.Carek@nasa.govLast updated: October 12, 2006
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