Testing Microprocessor Chips Destined for the Orion Mission to Mars

Testing Microprocessor Chips Destined for Mars.

I remember reading somewhere, that in space no one can hear your scream. I guess what this means is that once in space you are on your own. This is why engineers design space craft with two of everything essential. All systems from navigation to communication are at least doubled up ( sometimes more than double ) leaving no single point of possible failure.

Testing microprocessors for the Mission to Mars Orion

Testing microprocessors for the Mission to Mars Orion


However, consider the microprocessors that run all of these systems and what it would mean if they suddenly all failed due to a blast of radiation. There would not even be a chance to scream.




Mistake-free Mars



What happens when radiation hits a chip? “As an ion goes through a microprocessor, it leaves a destructive trail of charged particles that can cause temporary disruption or permanent damage,” says Johnson. Bombarding a chip in a cyclotron is one of the best ways to see how it fails. “Once you know how the microprocessor is going to behave, you can make parts stronger, re-engineer it, add redundancy or shielding,” Johnson says.

It can also help with designing software” that can, for example, automatically reboot a system or reroute certain functions.

