The importance of FPGAs in the space sector

Dr Mojtaba Ghodsi, Senior Lecturer in the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Portsmouth, explains what makes FPGAs so vital and how professionals can benefit from understanding their intricacies.

The versatility and adaptability of FPGAs make them a critical component in the in the space industry. They offer flexibility and reprogramability, which enables engineers to adapt their functions depending on mission requirements. This is particularly useful in space missions where modifications might be required after deployment. Additionally, their ability to process large amounts of data efficiently, and to be customised for specific tasks make them indispensable in modern space technology. 

A key advantage of FPGAS is their resilience to radiation, which can negatively affect other types of microelectronics. Space environments expose equipment to high levels of cosmic radiation, so they are designed to withstand these harsh conditions to ensure the reliability of crucial systems to meet the stringent demands of space mission.

What are the different types of FPGAs and how are they used?

There are three main types of FPGAs, each designed for different applications based on factors such as performance, power efficiency, and flexibility: SRAM-based, Flash-based, and Antifuse-based. These technologies differ in how they store configuration data and in their application across various industries.

SRAM-based FPGAs store their configuration data in Static Random-Access Memory (SRAM) cells, which makes them reprogrammable and offering rapid performance. However, they are volatile, which means they lose their configuration when power off and require external memory to load the configuration each time the system is powered on. .  

Flash-based FPGAs use embedded flash memory to store and retain configuration data, even when power is lost. They also have the advantage of a quick start-up time, which is beneficial in scenarios when systems need to ready quickly. However, they have lower performance compared to SRAM-based versions. 

Antifuse-base FPGAs are known for their reliability and high resistance to radiation, which make them highly suitable for space applications. Once programmed, they cannot be altered, as the configuration is fixed, offering a highly reliable operation.

Challenges in the space environment

Space is a harsh environment, posing several challenges for the technology used in missions, whether that’s spacecrafts, rovers or satellites. FPGA are exposed to extreme temperatures, radiation exposure, vacuum conditions, and the mechanical stresses of microgravity and micrometeoroids.  Radiation exposure, in particular, can result in signal event upsets, total ionising dose single event latches and other forms of functional degradation. To mitigate against these risks, radiation-hardened FPGAs are developed using special manufacturing processes that protect against radiation-induced malfunctions. 

The importance of training in FPGAs 

To ensure space industry professionals can create dependable, power-efficient, and reconfigurable systems that are resilient to the extreme conditions of space, specialised training in FPGAs is essential for the space industry. It enables them to handle the complexities of mission-specific requirements, radiation challenges, and cutting-edge FPGA technologies, which are essential for the success of modern space missions. Training in FPGA technology allows experts to improve the resilience, adaptability, and efficiency of space systems by giving them the crucial skills and information, to create customised solutions that meet mission-specific needs 

By undertaking FPGA training, space industry professionals can improve their ability to develop reconfigurable and robust systems that contributes to the success of current missions, but also lays the foundation for future advancements in space technology. 

To support the career development of professionals, myself and colleagues in the Space South Central region are delivering a new ‘Securing the future of space: Space Software and Data/AI’ CPD course. This programme is funded through UK Space Agency’s Training Programmes Fund and is aimed at employees already in the space sector who are looking for promotion and to fulfil critical employer gaps, as well as professionals outside the sector who want to direct their talent towards the fast-growing space industry.