The Smart Sensors Group at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) has teamed up with the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW) to develop a process for running microchips in a super energy-efficient way. To test this process in space for the first time, they ran a bunch of experiments on a specially designed circuit board.
Under the name RISA – short for Reliability Investigation of Low Power FPGAs for Space Applications – the flight model of the payload was handed over to the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Bremen after successful laboratory tests. This handover marks an important milestone because the system will now be integrated into the DLR's PLUTO (Payload under Test Orbiter) satellite, which is scheduled to be launched into space in the third quarter of 2025 on the Spectrum rocket. Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle developed by the Bavarian space company Isar Aerospace specifically for small satellites, which is intended to make access to space more flexible and cost-efficient in the future.
Experiments in space
Prof. Ulf Kulau from the Smart Sensors Group hopes that the planned experiments will provide results on how radiation in space interacts with the energy efficiency mechanism. There is a specific reason why “low power” plays a central role here: “As we know, there is a vacuum in space. However, electronic components heat up during operation. On Earth, this heat can be dissipated with fans, but this is not possible in a vacuum. Therefore, the less heat the chips generate, the better they can be used in space.” During the two-year mission in low Earth orbit, the RISA project will provide valuable insights into the use of low-power FPGAs under the demanding conditions of space.
PLUTO is a technology demonstration mission in the form of a 6U CubeSat developed by the DLR Institute of Space Systems in Bremen. The main objective of the mission is the in-orbit verification and operation of novel technologies and space components. A special feature of PLUTO is a deployable 100-watt solar panel that enables new applications in the field of data processing and communication. The TU scientists have spent a year preparing these experiments. The successful handover of the RISA payload to DLR and its upcoming integration into the PLUTO satellite demonstrate the close and successful cooperation between the TUHH, HAW, and the DLR Institute of Space Systems.
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