Case Study: Astro Digital Employs PERSYST MRAM in Flight Control Computer For Satellite Systems
Astro Digital is a supplier of complete satellite systems and mission support services for a variety of applications from earth observation, in-orbit servicing, communications, science experiments, and technology demonstrations. Astro Digital’s Flight Computer utilizes Everspin PERSYST MRAM solutions.
The Flight Computer is the primary processor for the satellite system. It is responsible for receiving and storing command sequences from users on the ground, sending critical telemetry data, and distributing information & traffic to the various subsystems onboard the satellite.
The Astro Digital Flight Computer is designed for applications from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) up to 42,000km altitude, where the environments are harsh and reliability is paramount. Everspin’s PERSYST MRAM provides a dependable memory solution for this critical subsystem.
MRAM DEPLOYED IN SPACE MISSIONS
System designers can get the benefits of MRAM including non-volatile storage of the system code and parametric data, 500x faster write times for rapid updates, with no concern about wearing out the memory with continuous updates. With memory capacity up to 128Mb, there is ample room for critical system data storage in addition to system boot and operating code, with full rated performance over the entire temperature range. The fast write times allow for very efficient Over-the-Air updates. MRAM is also a preferred memory option because of the high data integrity at satellite altitudes.
White Paper: MRAM Quality and Reliability
Everspin's partner Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions (CAES) recently presented a technical case study describing the versatility and performance of their jointly developed Toggle MRAM for space applications. Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions is a worldwide leader in the space memory market and ships production-grade, space-qualified Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) based on Everspin’s world-class technology to provide the space industry with radiation hardened, highly reliable non-volatile memory that is immune to Single Event Upsets (SEU), low voltage Single Event Latchup (SEL), and Single Event Gate Rupture (SEGR). The products also provide unlimited endurance and a greater than 20-year retention across the -40° C to +105° C temperature range.
Case Study: SpriteSat (Rising) Satellite
SpriteSat (Rising) is an Earth observation satellite designed by ÅAC Microtec and built by Tohoku University located in Sendai, Japan. The mission is to monitor sprites (lightning effects) phenomena in the upper atmosphere.
ÅAC Microtec used Everspin's extended temperature range 4Mbit MRAM in its Tohoku-ÅAC MEMS Unit (TAMU), a magnetometer subsystem. Everspin's 4Mbit MRAM device replaced both Flash and battery-backed SRAM.
Why AAC Microtec selected MRAM for the TAMU magnetometer subsystem in SpriteSat
The TAMU is an advanced magnetometer subsystem developed at Ångström Aerospace Corporation (ÅAC) of Uppsala, Sweden. The purpose of the TAMU is to provide magnetometer data of the Earth's magnetic field for correlation with the sprite observations. The experimental TAMU is composed of four types of devices manufactured using leading-edge technologies: a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor, an MPU chip fabricated by 3D-system-in-package technology, a 4 Mbit MRAM (Magnetic Random Access Memory) chip manufactured by Everspin Technologies and an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) chip.
In the words of the designers, "The emerging MRAM technology combines magnetic materials and silicon integrated circuitry to form a fast, reliable, non-volatile RAM (NVRAM). MRAM combines non-volatile memory with extended temperature operation, unlimited endurance, and long-term data retention, even when the power fails." *
Why is MRAM suitable for aerospace applications?
- MRAM is radiation-tolerant.
- MRAM provides both high temperature data storage and access and high reliability for rugged system design.
- The ability to reprogram MRAM while in space allows a system to be reconfigured without any limit to endurance, load leveling or ECC overhead.
* https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/s/spritesat