Memories and NASA Spacecraft: A Description of Memories, Radiation Failure Modes, and System Design Considerations

Kenneth A. LaBel, NASA/GSFC
Ray Ladbury, NASA/GSFC
Tim Oldham, DELL/Perot Systems

As NASA has evolved it's usage of spaceflight computing, memory applications have followed as well. In this talk, we will discuss the history of NASA's memories from magnetic core and tape recorders to current semiconductor approaches. We will briefly describe current functional memory usage in NASA space systems followed by a description of potential radiation-induced failure modes along with considerations for reliable system design. Document date April 29, 2010.