Juno Arrives at Jupiter with Radiation-hardened Electronics
July 26, 2016 | BAE SystemsEstimated reading time: 1 minute
With a magnetic field 20,000 times stronger than that of Earth, Jupiter presents a hostile environment for any nearby satellite electronics. Despite the challenging conditions, on July 4, 2016, NASA’s Juno satellite established orbit around the massive gas giant to study its structure and evolution, thanks in part to our radiation-hardened RAD750® single-board computer.
After a journey of nearly five years and 2 billion miles, Juno will spend the next 20 months exploring our biggest neighbor, using its suite of scientific instruments to look for evidence of a solid planetary core, map the planet’s intense magnetic field, and measure the amount of water in the atmosphere.
Over the course of Juno’s 30-plus orbits around Jupiter during the next year and a half, the spaceship will receive a dose of radiation stronger than 100 million dental X-rays, which would be lethal to today’s typical microelectronics. To help protect its sensitive electronics from the intense electromagnetic waves, the spacecraft is fitted with a protective titanium vault with walls about one centimeter thick. That’s where the RAD750 and other critical electronics components reside.
The RAD750 processor serves as the main computer for Juno, operating at 132 megahertz with 128 megabytes of DRAM local memory. While those numbers may not seem impressive by Earth standards, unlike its terrestrial counterparts, the rad-hard RAD750 processor can withstand radiation doses a million times stronger than a fatal human dose.
The Juno mission is the latest in a long line of high-profile achievements of our space electronics capabilities. We’ve been delivering radiation-hardened space processors for 20 years, and our electronics have been deployed in more than 250 satellites supporting more than 50 different missions, including the Deep Impact space probe, the Kepler space observatory, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
“We were pleased the Juno team turned to us when they designed a satellite that could stand up to Jupiter’s extreme conditions,” said Ricardo Gonzalez, director of Space Products & Processing. “The RAD750 computer is known for its ability to withstand the rigors of deep space and maintain operation despite massive doses of radiation.”
Suggested Items
Altus Equips SSTL with Advanced Cleaning Technology for Electronics
05/07/2024 | Altus GroupAltus Group, a leading supplier of capital equipment for the electronics manufacturing industry, has announced the successful installation of an advanced PCBA cleaning system at Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL).
GPV's Handover of Refurbished Factory Building
05/07/2024 | GPVOn 6 May 2024, Bjorn Fiskers, MD at GPV Electronics TH in Thailand and his team were handed the keys to our refurbished factory building, adding another 7,000 sqm to our current 15,000 sqm electronics factory. Our electronics factory in Thailand will comprise of a total of 22,000 sqm.
New Yorker, Major League Electronics Sign New Franchised Distribution Agreement
05/06/2024 | New Yorker Electronics Co.New Yorker Electronics, global distributor of electronic components, recently announced a new franchised distribution agreement with Major League Electronics, renowned manufacturer of interconnect products.
AT&S Brings High-Tech to the Museumsquartier
05/06/2024 | AT&SAT&S, as a “MQ goes Green” partner, has prepared special highlights for the occasion: Visitors aged eight and above can embark on an interactive journey through the fascinating world of microelectronics.
May Issue of SMT007 Magazine: Coming to Terms With AI
05/06/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamIn the May 2024 issue of SMT007 Magazine, we examine the profound effect artificial intelligence and machine learning are having on manufacturing and business processes. We follow technology, innovation, and money as automation becomes the new key indicator of growth in our industry.
Copyright © 2024 I-Connect007 | IPC Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Log in