Single event upsets for Space Shuttle flights of new general purpose computer memory devices

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994 · IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/23.317386· OSTI ID:6980816

O'Neill, P M; Badhwar, G D ^[1]

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1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Houston, TX (United States). Johnson Space Center

The replacement of magnetic core with a well characterized semiconductor memory in the Space Shuttle orbiter general purpose computers (GPC's) has provided a wealth of on-orbit radiation effects data since 1991. The fault tolerant GPC's detect, correct, and downlink memory upset status and orbiter position information every few seconds, giving them the ability to correlate 1400 upsets to date with altitude, geomagnetic latitude, and solar conditions. The predicted upset rate was computed by a modified path-length distribution method. The modification accounts for the Weibull distribution cross-section (rather than a single upset threshold) and the device sensitive volume thickness. Device thickness was estimated by the method normally used to account for edge effects at the upset cross-section discontinuity that occurs at ion changes. A galactic cosmic ray environment model accurately models the average particle flux for each mission. The predicted and observed upset rates wee found to be in good agreement for sensitive volume thicknesses consistent with the device's fabrication technology.

• OSTI ID: 6980816
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States) Vol. 41:5; ISSN 0018-9499; ISSN IETNAE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440200* -- Radiation Effects on Instrument Components
Instruments
or Electronic Systems
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
COMPUTERS
COSMIC RADIATION
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
FAULT TOLERANT COMPUTERS
FORECASTING
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MEMORY DEVICES
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SPACE FLIGHT