Space Systems Technology Development Space Systems Performance, Endurance, and Survivability

Gamma ray induced failures are major threats to computer systems deployed in space. If not treated properly, radiation errors can seriously jeopardize a space or missile mission. In common practice, safety-critical computer equipment for space usually employs hardening combined with hardware redundancy to cope with radiation-induced errors. However, this technology is expensive, especially for payload developers. This project investigates an alternative, much less expensive architecture for the development of reliable payload controllers that relies on off-the-shelf computers and software, multi-programming, and on software implemented fault tolerance (SIFT) to achieve reliability. In the SIFT approach, memory is replicated, and multiple copies of the same program are executed and correct results of computations are decided by majority vote. The objective of the project is to design the architecture of a reliable payload controller, implement it, and to perform experiments that show its suitability to cope with gamma radiation. Moreover, the techniques developed in this project will be computerized in a payload controller shell that enables payload developers to employ these technologies in payloads. The proposal develops techniques and software to improve the performance, endurance, and survivability of space and missile payloads.