BOZEMAN — Montana State University (MSU) has achieved a significant milestone in its innovative spacecraft computer project, with a recent rocket launch delivering their cutting-edge technology to the International Space Station.
Early Monday morning, at around 4:30 a.m., an Antares rocket took off from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Onboard was a prototype of MSU's radiation-resistant computing technology, along with the names of approximately 2,000 MSU graduates from May, engraved on eight ultra-thin aluminum sheets.
Brock LaMeres, a professor in MSU's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, described the launch experience vividly: "The whole sky lit up, and the noise and rumbling about shook the fillings out of my teeth." He was accompanied by graduate student Skylar Tamke, who added, "It was a very intense experience. We were close enough to feel the force of the rocket."
The prototype, along with the graduates' names, is contained within a satellite about the size of a loaf of bread. This satellite will test the new computer technology. On Thursday, astronauts aboard the space station used a robotic arm to retrieve the rocket's payload, which included the satellite, food, and other supplies. The satellite is set to be launched into Earth's orbit using a spring-loaded mechanism.
Innovative Technology for Space Exploration
LaMeres noted that sending the graduates' names into space adds a playful touch to a project that has received over $2 million in NASA funding. This funding has facilitated hands-on research for more than 50 MSU students and provided a novel solution to a longstanding spaceflight challenge.
Space radiation poses a threat to the operation of computers on satellites and spacecraft. Traditionally, these computers have relied on large circuitry to withstand radiation from the sun and other celestial bodies, which are typically blocked by Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field.
The MSU team's technology, known as RadPC, utilizes multiple inexpensive processors similar to those found in personal computers. These processors work in parallel, enabling them to detect and correct faults caused by radiation particles, ensuring continuous computation and reprogramming any affected memory.
Testing and Future Prospects
The satellite test marks one of the final stages in proving the technology's effectiveness. It has previously been tested aboard the space station, on high-altitude balloons, and on small rockets reaching the edge of space, according to LaMeres.
As the satellite orbits Earth, it will perform routine calculations and transmit data to an antenna at MSU’s Bozeman campus. Researchers will observe whether radiation impacts any of the processors and if the remaining processors can correct any errors, LaMeres explained.
This satellite test is funded by NASA’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and another NASA grant, the Undergraduate Student Instrument Project (USIP), which supports student participation in real-world NASA missions. LaMeres emphasized that MSU is the first to use the USIP grant to launch a satellite, drawing interest from NASA officials at the launch.
Student Involvement and Future Missions
The RadSat was primarily designed and built by nine senior engineering students, with LaMeres and Tamke providing leadership and technical guidance. The students collaborated with NASA officials for design reviews and worked with NanoRacks LLC, the contractor managing the space station’s satellite deployer, to prepare for the launch.
Looking forward, the research team is set for another NASA flight next year. This mission will test the technology in a satellite equipped with more advanced software, assessing its performance during an actual space mission.