Bridging the Gap between Speed and Resilience for On-Orbit Computing

Mark Broadbent has more than 25 years of experience in spacecraft avionics. He specializes in the design, development, and integration of high-performance spacecraft electronics and holds several lectures, workshops and presentations on the technology every year. Broadbent earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University.

Katie Gibas is the Moog Space Division Marketing Communications Manager. She earned her Space Professional Certification through Nova Space in 2024 and holds an MBA from SUNY Empire. She joined the Moog team after a dozen years as a journalist, where she was recognized for her storytelling with an Edward R. Murrow and several Associated Press Awards.

We often think of space technology as the latest and greatest, informing many other technologies here on Earth. However, modern consumer electronics, such as the smartphone or laptop on which you are reading this article, boast processing speeds far superior to those of current satellite computers. This disparity arises because satellites utilize older, extensively tested computers that are equipped to withstand the harsh space environment. In addition, older, larger computer chips with larger transistors exhibit greater radiation resistance compared to modern, smaller chips. The challenge lies in achieving faster processing speeds while maintaining radiation protection.

In the dynamic realm of aerospace technology, the demand for resilient and high-performance satellites is critical. As the dependency on space-based assets for military, environmental, and commercial purposes intensifies, we must safeguard these systems while enabling real-time data processing. This necessity is best addressed through on-orbit computing, where data is processed directly on the satellite, eliminating the latency associated with transmitting vast amounts of data back to Earth. This approach enhances real-time analytics, bandwidth efficiency, security, and overall system resilience, requiring a sophisticated blend of advanced engineering and strategic foresight.

Space is Hard

Space is arguably the most challenging environment or domain. In addition to its remote nature and inability for sustainment services, relentless radiation poses significant threats to satellite electronics. High-energy particles can inflict both immediate and long-term damage on electronic components, potentially leading to mission failures.

“High-speed edge computing in space is not just innovation; it is mission-critical for resilience, security, and real-time decision-making”

As the space domain continues to evolve, continuous innovation and vigilance are required to protect and enhance satellite avionics and electronic systems. Radiation-hardening is essential to protect satellite avionics the “brains” of the satellite. Moog stands at the forefront of radiation-hardened space avionics technology, offering flight computers, memory processors, storage solutions, graphics processing units, and critical avionics for both government and commercial applications across all Earth orbits and deep space. Moog’s commitment to developing radiation hard-by-design (RHBD) components and rigorously testing off-the-shelf components ensures their reliability for space missions.

Advanced Features and Collaborative Development

To address the need for faster computing on orbit, companies are exploring new solutions to enhance the resilience and autonomy of space missions.

Moog’s Cascade Single Board Computer (SBC) represents a significant advancement in the field on on-orbit computing technology. It was developed through an internal research and development program in collaboration with Microchip Technology. The Cascade SBC features Microchip’s PIC64- HPSC microprocessor a radiation-hardened, 10-core, and RISC-V® processor developed under a commercial partnership with NASA/JPL. This processor offers computational speeds orders of magnitude faster than current on-orbit systems, with every component and testing protocol designed specifically for space radiation.

The Moog Cascade SBC not only provides advanced computing power but also incorporates Layer 2 Ethernet switch capabilities for data communications, fault tolerance, correction, and critical security features. The collaboration between Moog and Microchip has accelerated the development cycle, ensuring a faster time to market. Chris Hodge, Moog Avionics General Manager, emphasizes the transformative impact of the Cascade SBC, highlighting its unparalleled computational speed, radiation resilience, and advanced security features.

Ensuring Operational Readiness

Integrating radiation hardening, cyber security measures, and high-speed computing capabilities is essential for maintaining operational readiness. This dual focus on physical and cyber resilience, combined with innovative computational power, enables operators to perform their intended functions reliably and effectively, even in the face of evolving threats. High-speed data processing at the edge is crucial for real-time decision-making, allowing the aerospace and defense industry to deliver systems that thrive in the demanding space environment.