High Temperature, Radiation Hard Electronics Architecture for a Chemical Sensor Suite for Venus Atmospheric Measurements

Makel Engineering, Inc. (MEI) working with Ozark Integrated Circuits, Inc (OzIC) and United Silicon Carbide, Inc. (USCI) will develop a high temperature SiC electronics to support chemical microsensors for measuring the atmosphere of Venus at the surface for extended durations (100's of days). The chemical sensor array for measuring species at the surface of Venus has been developed by MEI. The Venus Microsensor Chemical Array can operate in a 500 C environment, but currently relies on silicon based electronics for signal acquisition, control, and data transmission. These electronics require cooling for a Venus mission. Our Phase I program defined approaches for the use SiC electronics to perform the control and signal transduction functions. A Venus In-situ Atmospheric Measurement Instrument Package (VIAMIP) was defined based on SiC ASICs. In Phase II, MEI and OzIC will develop ASIC designs compatible with the NASA's SiC process flow. In parallel, MEI and USCI will undertake design and fabrication of designs adapted for USCI?s SiC process to establish a commercial source for SiC ASICs for the VIAMIP and to expanded the uses of high temperature microsensors.