Renesas Electronics Corporation, a provider of advanced semiconductor solutions, announced that hundreds of its rad-hard integrated circuits (ICs), including more than 50 different part numbers, are on board the Artemis 1 launch, which took off on November 16th.
Intersil brand rad-hard ICs are part of the battery management systems, the RS-25 engine control electronics and the launch abort system of the Space Launch System that powered the mission into space, the most powerful rocket ever built.
Renesas supplied critical components for the controller boards, main flight computer, docking camera system, power distribution system, and display and electronics panel for the Orion capsule that will circle the moon. Intersil brand ICs perform multiple functions, including power management and precise signal processing.
Artemis is NASA's ambitious program that will return humanity to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. Artemis 1 is sending the test dummy-populated Orion capsule to orbit the moon and deploy cubesats and other space experiments on a 42-day mission to test all critical systems.
Artemis 2 (2024) will have a crew orbiting the moon paving the way for Artemis 3 (2025), which will land the first woman and first black person on the moon. The plan is for Artemis to continue building a space station in lunar orbit and a base at the lunar South Pole. This infrastructure will enable the inspiring goal of a manned mission to Mars in the 2040s.
“We leverage decades of experience as a deeply trusted space supplier to design and manufacture our ultra-rugged Intersil-branded ICs to withstand the harshest environments,” said Chris Stephens, vice president and general manager of Renesas' HiRel business division. “These devices play a critical role in enabling this seminal moment that is capturing the imagination of a new and diverse group of engineers, scientists and explorers.”
The Renesas Intersil brand has a long history in the space industry that spans more than six decades, beginning with the founding of Radiation Inc. in 1950. Since then, virtually every satellite, space shuttle launch and deep space exploration mission included Intersil brand products. . Renesas leverages this experience to provide efficient, thermally optimized and highly reliable MIL-STD-883 and MIL-PRF 38535 Class-V/Q Intersil branded SMD products for defense, high reliability (Hi-Rel) and radiation. -difficult space markets.
Renesas Intersil brand rad-hard ICs support subsystems for mission-critical applications in data communications transfer, power supplies and power conditioning, general protection circuits, and telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C).
Deep space is a challenging environment for spaceflight and asteroid exploration systems, particularly due to the intense radiation environment found in almost all mission profiles. The design, layout, certain process technologies and manufacturing steps such as burn-in and full-dose testing of ICs ensure predictable performance and prevent system failures during flight and on long-duration robotic and crewed missions to other planets.
Intersil Spaceflight IC Capabilities:
- >400 space-qualified radiation resistant products available
- Consistent design and manufacturing at Renesas' MIL-PRF-38535 qualified facility located in Palm Bay, Florida
- Renesas' Intersil brand is one of only around 15 QML suppliers to the RHA Defense Logistics Agency (Land and Maritime)
- Fully Class V (space level) compliant products
- Products are in individual designs DLA SMD
