NASA is testing a next-generation space processor designed to dramatically increase the computing power aboard future spacecraft. The chip, developed through a partnership between NASA and Microchip Technology, could eventually allow spacecraft to process massive amounts of data and make decisions without waiting for commands from Earth.

Engineers say the processor could transform how NASA handles deep-space exploration, planetary landings, and future crewed missions to the Moon and Mars. Early testing at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California shows the chip operating at nearly 500 times the performance of radiation-hardened processors currently used in space.

Built for deep space

The processor sits at the center of NASA’s High Performance Spaceflight Computing project (HPSC). Unlike standard commercial chips, the new system must survive intense radiation, violent launch conditions, and extreme temperature swings for years without repair.

Known as a system-on-a-chip, or SoC, the hardware combines several major computing functions into a compact unit. It includes central processing units, advanced networking systems, memory, computational offloads, and input/output interfaces.

The design mirrors the compact architecture found in smartphones and tablets. However, NASA’s version is hardened for deep-space missions where electronic failures can cripple spacecraft operations.

“Building on the legacy of previous space processors, this new multicore system is fault-tolerant, flexible, and extremely high-performing,” said Eugene Schwanbeck, program element manager in NASA’s Game Changing Development program at the agency’s Langley Research Center, in Hampton, Virginia.

“NASA’s commitment to advancing spaceflight computing is a triumph of technical achievement and collaboration.”

NASA believes the processor will eventually support artificial intelligence systems aboard spacecraft. Those systems could analyze environments, navigate hazards, and react to unexpected conditions in real time.

Processing power leaps ahead

Current spacecraft often use outdated processors because modern chips struggle to survive space radiation. That limitation restricts onboard computing and forces many missions to rely heavily on Earth-based processing. NASA’s new chip aims to remove that bottleneck.

Engineers at JPL have spent months testing the processor under simulated deep-space conditions. The chip has undergone radiation exposure, thermal testing, shock evaluations, and electromagnetic interference assessments.

“We are putting these new chips through the wringer by carrying out radiation, thermal, and shock tests while also evaluating their performance through a rigorous functional test campaign,” said Jim Butler, High Performance Space Computing project manager at JPL.

Radiation remains one of the biggest technical challenges. High-energy particles from the Sun and deep space can corrupt spacecraft electronics and force systems into “safe mode,” shutting down nonessential operations.

NASA also tested the chip using high-fidelity planetary landing simulations. Those scenarios require spacecraft to process huge streams of sensor data almost instantly.

“To simulate real-world performance, we are using high-fidelity landing scenarios from real NASA missions that would typically require power-intensive hardware to process huge volumes of landing-sensor data,” Butler said. “This is an exciting time for us to be working on hardware that will enable NASA’s next giant leaps.

NASA selected Microchip Technology as a commercial partner in 2022. The company funded its own research and development alongside NASA and JPL.