OVERVIEW: 

Future space system concepts could be enhanced with improved on-board computing resources which can achieve high levels of computational performance, radiation tolerance, and cybersecurity with low size, weight, power, and cost. New solutions for on-board computing with better design practices, component selections, radiation mitigation and testing methods, and other techniques could enable increased autonomy for future space system concepts to operate in harsher space environments with more sophisticated capabilities.

Due to harsh and inaccessible operating environments, embedded systems for spacecraft are subject to many unique challenges and constraints that limit on-orbit computing performance. However, the increasing need for real-time sensor and autonomous processing, coupled with limited communication bandwidth with ground stations, is increasing on-orbit computing demands for next-generation space systems. Future space system concepts could be enhanced with improved on-board computing resources which can achieve high levels of computational performance, radiation tolerance, and cybersecurity with low size, weight, power, and cost. In recent years, the commercial space industry has produced a variety of on-board space computing products, typically aimed toward the growing small-satellite market, which attempt to balance the use of high-performance commercial components with supporting radiation-tolerant components and fault-tolerant design techniques. Industry could further improve upon these products with better design practices, component selections, radiation mitigation and testing methods, and other techniques to enable increased autonomy for future space system concepts to operate in harsher space environments with more sophisticated capabilities.