Radiation test bench and analysis for low cost space avionics

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With the recent influx of commercial launch operators like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Orbit, access tospace has never been easier and less expensive than it is today. This improved access has the potential toenable more companies, research groups, communities, and governments to leverage space for a wide variety of purposes, including remote sensing, internet communications, space science, and exploration. However, even though launch costs are coming down, the high cost of space-qualified and radiation-hardened electronics remains a barrier to entry for many. In addition, Canadian space companies like Magellan Aerospace need access to lower-cost electronic components to remain competitive in a market where foreign competitors offer low-cost space systems.This research project will train two Master's students while creating and demonstrating a novel hardware /software system and screening methodology that will qualify low-cost commercial electronics for use in space. We will develop a reusable set of electronics, data acquisition systems, and support equipment that can subject dozens of electronic components to simulated space radiation. Monitoring software will identify faults in the components and estimate the reliability of a given batch of parts. We will test and demonstrate the system using the Tri-University Meson Foundation (TRIUMF) cyclotron, to qualify MOSFETs, gate drivers,oscillators, memory, and amplifiers for use in Magellan's upgraded, low-cost space computer.The result of this project will be a novel end-to-end radiation test, evaluation, and analysis system thatMagellan plans to use for future space projects, allowing them to leverage commercial electronic components for high-reliability space missions. By doing so, Magellan will be able to improve the performance, lead-time and price of their satellite avionics systems, improving their competitiveness on a global stage.