Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Please tell us about your space computer/processor products-do you have several products?
A. Yes, Space Micro offers Proton200k™, Proton300k™, and Proton400k™ radiation hardened single board computers for space. Our technology roadmap has even more advanced versions planned for the future.
Q. How do you harden the COTS parts to the effects of space radiation?
A. Space Micro is able to leverage state of the art commercial processors by application of our patent-pending TTMR™ SEU mitigation. In addition, we apply H-core™ technology to mitigate SEFI.
Q. What is the typical SEU error rate for the Proton-series space computers?
A. SEU error rate for the industry standard Adams 90% GEO is 1E-4 errors/day.
Q. What is typical power dissipation of both Proton100k and Proton200k?
A. Typical SBC power dissipation operating at full speed is 7-9 watts for Proton100k and 4-7 watts for the Proton200k.
Q. Does Space Micro also offer radiation hardened ICs?
A. Yes, Space Micro is developing several rad hard ICs for the space market. These include: Rad hard error correction IC, Rad hard level shifter, and Rad hard H-core IC.
Q. What semiconductor foundries do you use?
A. We use several qualified COTS IC foundries. The selection is based on the performance requirements of the chip. Among our foundries are AMI, TSMC, Maxim, Peregrine, and IBM (trusted foundry).
Q. What form factors are available for your SBCs for space?
A. We offer SBCs in a variety of form factors including 3U, 6U, and variation on PCI-104. Virtually any size board is available for custom application with a configuration charge.
Q. Do your products have heritage or space flight qualification?
A. Yes. Our products have been first flew on TacSat-2, launched in December 2006. Many more products have been delivered for space programs and are scheduled to fly in 2010.
Q. What new technologies are in development at Space Micro?
A. We continue to innovate with new technologies such as laser communications error correction techniques, reconfigurable analog, encryption technology, and signal processing node electronics.
Q. What is the background and expertise of Space Micro management team?
A. Our management team has over 60 years of relevancy experience in the space electronics community at Northrop, SAIC, Space Electronics Inc, Maxwell, prior to founding Space Micro Inc. in 2002.
Go to the Space Micro Overview page.