NASA space missions are taking spacecraft and crews farther and farther from Earth, so there is a growing need for systems that can operate with minimal or no human supervision. This is especially important due to the great distances involved, as astronauts on the Moon and Mars will experience communication delays, making it difficult to send reports, commands and scientific data quickly.
At the same time, autonomous systems can speed up scientific work, because they enable faster data analysis directly on the spacecraft. However, space processors must withstand extreme temperatures, strong radiation, and conditions where repair is virtually impossible.
This is why NASA, through the Game Changing Development program, entered into a commercial partnership to develop the High Performance Spaceflight Computing system, known as HPSC. This processor is supposed to provide spacecraft with a significantly greater ability to make autonomous decisions, and it has just completed its first round of tests in conditions that simulate the space environment.
NASA HPSC processor brings AI processing to space
NASA has traditionally relied on older chips, designed primarily to be durable and reliable. However, modern missions collect huge amounts of data, so processors that can process them faster and more efficiently are needed. That’s why NASA and Arizona-based Microchip Technology are developing the HPSC, a radiation-resistant processor with 100 times more computing power than current systems.
An HPSC is an SoC, similar in concept to that used in phones and tablets, as it combines CPU cores, additional processing units, advanced networking, memory, and an I/O interface. The difference is that this chip is designed to work millions or billions of kilometers from Earth for years.
In addition to raw performance, HPSC brings AI data processing and scalable vector capabilities. It can adjust consumption and performance, so certain functions can be turned off or switched to a lower consumption mode when they are not needed. This is crucial because electricity is one of the most important resources in the universe.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory therefore conducts radiation, temperature, impact and functionality tests. Landing scenarios from real NASA missions are also used to verify that the chip can process large amounts of sensor data without relying on heavy and energy-intensive equipment. HPSC could thus become the basis for the next generation of smarter and more autonomous NASA missions.
Testing of the HPSC processor began in February at the NASA JPL laboratory and will continue for several months, but the first results already seem very promising. From what engineers have seen so far, the new processor achieves up to 500 times better performance than radiation-resistant chips currently used in space missions.
Once certified for space flight, NASA plans to incorporate HPSC into the computer systems of future orbiters, rovers, space stations and deep space missions. This would give spacecraft significantly more local computing power, less reliance on constant communication with Earth, and a better basis for autonomous decision-making during the most demanding missions, reports Science Alert.