A low-cost, powerful flight computer design including Linux and IP technology for the low earth orbiting Local Ionospheric Measurements Satellite

There exists a growing interest in space-flight-capable computer hardware based on commercially available, non-radiation hardened parts able to run modern operating systems. This interest is driven by the desire to reduce cost while increasing the capability of flight electronics. The Local Ionospheric Measurements Satellite (LionSat) will include a flight computer constructed almost entirely from standard commercial and military parts that have not been formally qualified for space. The computer will run the Linux operating system and employ common, freely available IP technology for data handling using a commercial Intel SA1110 core processor. While the SA1110 has flight heritage in its lineage through the SA1100, we are evaluating several technologies that will increase the ability of the entire computer to function in a LEO radiation environment. Hardening technologies under study include attachable radiation shielding that can be applied directly to sensitive chips and error correcting techniques for managing radiation events up to a total loss of a memory cell. The resulting system will be a low-cost, powerful computing platform capable of operating in LEO almost as though it were an embedded system on a terrestrial internet link.