High performance VLSI for space and commercial applications

High performance VLSI is a key electronic technology required to advance science and commercial space missions. This paper illustrates several such NASA applications which require special purpose VLSI. In addition to being able to solve unique scientific problems, specialized VLSI can provide breakthrough technology for new commercial products. For example, the basic technology used to solve a key problem for the Hubble Space Telescope is now used in modern disc drives and digital cable television set top boxes. Spaceflight qualified, application specific VLSI integrated circuits simplify the task of incorporating commercial technology into space hardware. NASA maintains a substantial effort to characterize the hardness of commercial IC processes and parts for total ionizing dose (TID), single event upset (SEU) and single event latchup (SEL). NASA uses this information as a key element in partitioning circuits. By combining this information with a mission´s orbital dynamics, duration and criticality, NASA is utilizing more commercial IC products without increase in mission risk