ABSTRACT
The design methodologies used to build electronic systems for space have historically changed very little mission-to-mission, for good reason. When venturing beyond the atmosphere, such value is placed on first-pass mission success that efficiency and performance must by necessity be considered secondary priorities to simplicity and reliability. Within this engineering trade space, it is no small feat for a new design approach to scale the barriers to entry and claim position amidst the tried and true “flight qualified” space technologies. As technological capabilities continue to advance and ambitions expand, however, the advantages associated with adopting new and innovative approaches become increasingly difficult to ignore. This trend is readily apparent when considering recent developments in the area of cold-capable integrated circuit (IC) technologies.
