Aitech Powers the Future of Space Missions with New Radiation-Tolerant 3U OpenVPX SP1 Single-Board Computer
New High-Performance SP1 Quad Core Processor Joins Aitech Family of Space-Rated Single-Board Computers
CHATSWORTH, Calif., March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aitech, a leading provider of rugged embedded systems for use in military, aerospace and space platforms, announced the 3U OpenVPX SP1, a space-rated single-board computer (SBC) engineered for high-performance space missions, including low earth orbit (LEO), geostationary orbit (GEO), lunar and deep space missions. The SP1 is designed to be used in multiple spacecraft and payload systems to improve orbit computation and meet the growing needs for edge processing and analysis and on-board computing. With a wide range of I/Os, a powerful on-board processor, and a high-performance configurable FPGA that enables mission flexibility, the SP1 delivers mission-critical reliability and adaptability essential for space applications.
"The space market is rapidly evolving, and next generation, more powerful SBCs are essential in enabling multi-core high performance supporting increasingly complex missions," said John White, Space Solutions Director, Aitech. "Aitech's SP1 is indispensable in the space market by providing efficient and reliable computing solutions for Earth observation, communications, Command and Data Handling (C&DH), robotic applications with vision processing, power distribution and management, and signal processing and analysis, from LEO to lunar and deep space missions."
The SP1 is designed and built for applications that require extensive data processing and high bandwidth, making it critical for next-generation missions, including:
- Autonomous Space Maintenance, Operations and Flights: As part of a digital backbone, the powerful and configurable SP1 supports a variety of autonomous operations, reducing reliance on ground-based decision-making and enabling spacecraft to perform real-time decision-making and maneuvering through integrated AI/ML algorithms.
- Debris Avoidance and Situational Awareness: With thousands of space debris, big and small, tracking in Earth's orbit, collisions with all forms of space debris can cause catastrophic damage. Providing enhanced computational capabilities to detect and evade space debris, the SP1's high-speed processing improves situational awareness, dynamic trajectory predictions, and autonomous collision avoidance to ensure long-term sustainability at all orbit levels.
- Multiple Payload Hosting and Control: The SP1 leverages OpenVPX and increased I/O bandwidth for future space systems, allowing it to provide flexibility for different sensors, payloads and digital backbone architectures including, Gigabit Ethernet, GPIO, UART Serial, USB 2.0, SpaceWire, SpaceFibre, CANbus, and SPI with an onboard FPGA and PMC connector to provide additional I/Os. The SP1 I/Os can be supplemented with peripheral boards that will provide stepper motor control, power control, high-speed camera interfaces, storage, and digital and analog IO.
Aitech offers the SP1 with electronic reliability to meet orbit and mission needs with different levels of EEE parts from LEO to deep space and every critical mission from unmanned to human safety critical space missions. The SP1's four 1.8 GHz 64-bit ARM vortex-A72 cores can achieve 44,000 CoreMarks of performance and utilize ECC equipped DDR4 memory to enhance capacity and reduce bandwidth usage by processing data locally and sending only essential information. The SP1 will be fully radiation-tested and characterized to 100 krad (Si) and provide latch-up immunity to 67 MeV-cm2/mg in an ISS orbit.
Technology Highlights:
- Radiation characterized to 100 krad (Si) for LEO/GEO and lunar space missions
- Four 1.8 GHz 64-bit ARM Cortex-A72 cores of processing power
- Variety of I/O provides flexibility for different sensors, payloads and digital backbone
- Multiple NASA EEE-INST-002 reliability levels available for mission and orbit needs
More about the Aitech SP Family:
The Aitech SP family of SBCs includes the mission-proven SP0-S single-core SBC and the new SP1 quad-core processor SBC, representing the broadest family of computing performance and capabilities designed to meet performance requirements for all space mission needs. The SP1 development boards will be available for delivery in Q4 2025. For more information, please call 888-Aitech-8 (888-248-3248), visit https://bit.ly/3U-OpenVPX-SP1 or e-mail sales@aitechsystems.com.
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About Aitech
Leveraging four decades of experience providing reliable, rugged embedded systems for use in military, aerospace, and space platforms, Aitech is the world's first independent, open systems architecture, COTS/MOTS innovator offering customized boards as building blocks for integrated computing and networking subsystems. Offering customization services for rugged and severe environment military, aerospace, and space applications, Aitech delivers mission-optimized and proven system solutions across Sea, Land, Air, and Space domains. Aitech solutions are used by industry leaders like Airbus, BAE Systems, Boeing, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Northrop Grumman, Rafael, and Virgin Galactic.
Aitech is supporting a better tomorrow with highly reliable, cost-effective, and proven rugged embedded solutions designed to meet your mission and platform requirements. For more information, please visit www.aitechsystems.com.
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