This web site is dedicated to the design and use of
programmable and quick-turn technologies for space flight applications..
(MAPLD Conference)
Andy Biddle
Actel Europe Ltd
"Flight Qualification of Actel FPGAs"
Field Programmable Gate Arrays have proved to be ideal devices for use in Space Craft
Electronics but their adoption has until recently been confined to Scientific Instruments
and non mission critical areas. The reason for this restriction in Europe has been
primarily due to concerns regarding radiation effects, reliability and handling
methodologies. These issues are typical prior to adoption of commercially manufactured
devices but needed addressing due to the constant pressure to reduce development time and
the reducing number of space qualified silicon manufacturers. Over the last few years,
Actel has been working with the European Space Agency (ESA) and major space users to
address these issues and has now been established on a number of major space programs both
in the payload electronics and on the platforms.
This paper describes the tests and studies ESA has performed on Actel’s Rad Hard and Rad Tolerant FPGAs prior to accepting them on their satellites. These tests include radiation test methods and results, Architecture analysis and reliability testing plus studies in post program handling.
Last Revised January 09, 2002
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