A new space economy is emerging, and aerospace companies looking to make a name for themselves must start with strategic plans and successful spacecraft designs from its physical structure right down to the smallest electronic components selected. There are over 2,000 operational satellites in space and that number is growing substantially and quickly.
The space industry is currently going through significant expansion due to commercialization, with the number of satellites in orbit expected to reach 49,000 by 2029. In fact, the new space economy could reach $2.7 trillion by 2050, with the U.S. government and private companies increasing spending for space projects. These satellites will need radiation-qualified designs and suitable electronic components to carry out their missions successfully..
With the unique demands placed on electronics in space, electronics engineers currently face complex obstacles when developing and designing integrated circuit boards and systems. Radiation Test Solutions, Inc. (RTS) offers versatile and comprehensive spacecraft design analysis along with complete radiation testing solutions to validate our customer’s spacecraft that enable predictable product performance in our customers’ target environment. At RTS, our aerospace electronics engineers work collaboratively with your team to develop turnkey designs that exceed the stringent requirements of space-based products.
Electronic equipment engineering (EEE) components and materials for spacecraft must meet specific criteria, and satellite circuit designs have numerous challenges to overcome. Electronic design in satellites must consider high-energy ionizing radiation environments, extreme temperatures, power consumption, size restrictions and vibration tolerance.
Electronics engineers know that designing circuits for aerospace applications is more complicated than doing so for standard electronics. PCB designers who lack experience designing systems for the harsh environments of outer space can produce unsuccessful designs that lead to project setbacks and significant increases in costs.
High quality electronics system designs must be able to tolerate vibration and shock experienced at liftoff as well as critical radiation effects and the extreme temperatures in orbit. Satellite electrical systems can go from below freezing to extreme heat in a short period of time, with temperatures that extend from -55°C to 125°C . These extremes punish the materials, and can lead to decreased functionality or absolute failure.
Aerospace electronics also must be qualified to withstand the radiation they will be exposed to. The main radiation effects that satellites endure are total ionizing dose and displacement damage dose. Combined, they can be the cause of either cumulative or rapid damage. To protect aerospace electronics, components must be radiation hardened. Circuits must meet all design requirements if they are to perform properly and reliably, including the use of quality components. Radiation-tolerant integrated circuits are essential for resisting damage caused by high levels of ionizing radiation.
Today’s COTS approach to spacecraft design makes sense on many levels due to lower launch costs and shorter mission lives but selecting the most appropriate COTS components still can be challenging especially when there is a little or no qualified radiation data available. RTS provides our customers with the ability to screen out COTS components that might not be a good choice for the mission being contemplated.
The initial design of aerospace circuits must take into consideration the essential elements that make up satellite systems. Ultimately, satellites act as relay systems that gather, process and transmit information across large distances, not possible from ground-based systems. The satellite system elements of the sensing package or payload, receiver, transmitter and buss make up a complicated electronically controlled system which has to survive in the harsh environment of space.
In order to operate in space, PCB designs need to meet certain reliability and quality standards. Successfully developing PCBs for satellite technology requires professional insights that consistently produce high quality and reliable satellite products.
A successful electrical design approach for the space industry requires specific PCB layout techniques. These techniques are focused on creating especially robust products. The most stringent standards that engineers must consider include:
Using these unique obstacles as a guide for PCB design, the development process functions to address these challenges and test designs to ensure quality and reliability. For example, high-quality, qualified materials decrease the risk of failure due to vibration or temperature variation. Consequently, aerospace companies should steer clear of substandard components and only use traceable EEE components from reputable vendors. Counterfeit components are a significant challenge within the aerospace industry.
Most importantly, electronics must be radiation hardened by design or radiation tolerant, meaning they are initially designed and tested to be resistant to damage or malfunctions caused by ionizing radiation. In addition to radiation effects testing on circuits, thermal and vacuum testing helps to qualify satellite designs for the stresses of space.
Material selection plays a key role in overcoming the reliability challenges for space missions. Reliability in satellite PCBs has increased with the development of hydrocarbon, ceramic and thermoset polymer composites. Low outgassing is a significant criterion in PCB material selection as well. Outgassing in space results in trapped gasses being released and condensation on surfaces such as PCB material, which leads to problems in the circuit and subsystems.
Radiation-hardened packaging of components acts as additional shielding for multiple circuit boards. Radiation-hardened components come from contract manufacturers who are certified and meet the requirements laid out by AS9100D. These satellite PCBs are put through a series of tests to ensure consistent performance and component reliability.
Some of the key design standards for aerospace electronics include:
AS 91000 Standard: Requirements relating to quality and safety for aerospace manufacturers and suppliers.
ECSS-Q-ST-70-10C: Requirements for Space Product Assurance and measuring the qualification of printed circuits boards.
MIL-STD-55110: Establishes the performance and qualification requirements for printed wiring boards.
MIL-PRF-31032: Standards for the printed circuit board/printed wiring board.
IPC, NADCAP, DoD, European Space Agency (ESA): Space agencies that monitor and audit suppliers to ensure compliance with PCB standards.
RTS partners with aerospace companies and government contractors to design functioning electronic prototypes targeted to survive in space. With over 100+ years of combined industry experience, our aerospace electronics engineers work in conjunction with your team to refine concepts and validate designs through rigorous testing procedures.
To support our partners, RTS offers the following aerospace circuit design services:
Understanding what it takes to deliver successful solutions for the future is nothing new to RTS. Our design and test engineers have helped many customers meet budgets and scheduling timelines while maintaining strict reliability and functionality standards. Always adhering to regulatory standards, RTS understands the bigger picture and long-term vision of our partners, and acts as an expert guide on these highly complicated projects.
Let RTS help you follow the guidelines for electronics and materials design, analog circuits and high-speed digital circuits, and work closely with you to find electrical, optical and thermal solutions that will enable products to perform as needed in the harsh radiation environment of space. Whether you are designing a new satellite system or redeveloping a design, RTS provides the expertise and support you need to achieve your goals.