High‑Performance Processing for NewSpace Missions

Product

Modern small‑satellite missions face a central tension: the need for dramatically higher on‑board processing performance while operating in a radiation environment that commercial electronics are not designed to survive. Missions in areas such as Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, Automatic Identification System (AIS) ship tracking, Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) aircraft tracking, Earth observation, and spectrum intelligence increasingly depend on real‑time digital signal processing. Traditional radiation‑hardened processors cannot deliver the required throughput, while commercial off‑the‑shelf (COTS) devices, although powerful, are vulnerable to radiation effects such as single event latch‑up (SEL) and single event upset (SEU).

Together with a client in the space industry, Trenz Electronic addressed this challenge by combining a high‑performance COTS processing system with a radiation‑hardened supervisory architecture. The goal is a CubeSat‑ready, multi‑mission processing core that delivers terrestrial‑class performance while maintaining safe and predictable behavior in low Earth orbit.

Implementation

The processing architecture is built around a clear separation of responsibilities: a high‑performance COTS island for computation and a fully radiation‑hardened supervisor island for safety, control, and recovery.

At the heart of the COTS island is the Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC (Multi Processor System on Chip). This device integrates four ARM Cortex A53 application processors, two ARM Cortex R5 real‑time processors, and a large FPGA fabric with up to 341,000 logic cells. The MPSoC is paired with 4 GB of ECC‑protected DDR4 memory, dual 16 GB eMMC flash devices configured in pseudo SLC mode for robustness, and redundant NOR flash and MRAM for configuration and bitstream storage. High‑speed JESD204B serial interfaces provide up to 100 Gbit/s of data movement between the processing core and mission‑specific RF or sensor front ends.

This COTS domain runs an adapted Linux environment, typically Yocto‑based or PetaLinux, which allows the reuse of existing drivers, protocol stacks, and FPGA IP cores. This significantly reduces development time for mission‑specific applications such as software‑defined radio, image processing, or high‑speed data downlink.

The radiation‑hardened island is built around the Vorago VA41630 microcontroller, a hardened ARM Cortex M4 system on chip. This device manages essential functions such as power rail control, current and temperature monitoring, SEL detection, watchdog supervision, and telemetry and telecommand handling. It runs FreeRTOS and uses a modular broker architecture to route commands, generate housekeeping telemetry, and coordinate user‑defined tasks.

A key capability of the supervisor is the ability to shut down or reset the MPSoC within microseconds when a latch‑up is detected, preventing permanent damage. It also supports in‑orbit software and FPGA bitstream updates, even if the MPSoC is unresponsive, ensuring recoverability throughout the mission lifetime.

The hardware is packaged in a compact 9 × 9 cm CubeSat form factor, with a heat spreader that also serves as a radiation shield. Mission‑specific RF front ends or companion accelerator boards, such as AI coprocessors, connect through FMC‑compatible high‑density connectors. This enables a test‑as‑you‑fly workflow from early prototyping to flight hardware.

Impact

The collaboration with Trenz Electronic was instrumental in turning the project from a system concept into a manufacturable, flight‑ready product. Trenz contributed long‑standing expertise in high‑density MPSoC module design, signal‑integrity‑optimized PCB layout, and reliable manufacturing of complex mixed‑signal systems. Their experience with Zynq‑based system‑on‑modules provided a mature foundation on which the customer built the radiation‑mitigation architecture and mission‑specific software framework.

This partnership accelerated development in several ways. First, Trenz’s existing MPSoC platforms enabled early firmware and FPGA development long before the flight hardware was finalized. Second, their familiarity with high‑speed interfaces and compact mechanical integration ensured that the final design met CubeSat constraints without compromising performance. Third, the collaboration reduced risk. Trenz’s proven industrial designs provided a stable baseline, allowing the customer to focus on radiation‑hardening strategies, supervisory logic, and system‑level reliability.

For the customer, the result is a competitive processing platform that sits between low‑cost COTS‑only solutions and expensive fully radiation‑hardened systems. It offers high performance, robust operation, and reduced development effort. For Trenz Electronic, the project demonstrates that its MPSoC technology is suitable not only for terrestrial and industrial applications but also for demanding NewSpace missions.

Together, the companies created a flexible, modular, and radiation‑aware processing system that enables faster mission development, higher payload capability, and a scalable path toward constellation‑level deployments.

Trenz Electronic’s products are available worldwide through a network of authorized distributors. In North America, Trenz Embedded provides direct coordination and support. We look forward to hearing from you and exploring how we can support your design and development needs.