Global small satellite corporations Nara Space Technology (Nara Space) said on the 20th that it was selected as the executing agency for the Ministry of Science and ICT's Global Top Aerospace Semiconductor Strategy Research Group project, specifically the "development of space semiconductor verification payload and design service for demonstration small satellite."
The goal of this project is to verify, in space, the reliability and space environment adaptability of domestically produced space semiconductors. Seven types of domestic semiconductors will be mounted on a 6U (1U is 10 cm by 10 cm by 10 cm) class small satellite and will be operated for an extended period in extreme space environments such as radiation, heat, vacuum and vibration. The collected data will be used to advance the semiconductor reliability model and expand future applications to domestic and overseas satellite systems.
In this project, Nara Space will jointly develop a payload capable of verifying seven types of domestic space semiconductors and a satellite bus that can verify them in the actual space environment. After launch and orbital insertion, the company plans to collect data in the actual space environment and proceed through to verification of semiconductor reliability.
Previously, Nara Space developed a satellite carrying space-grade devices from Korea's leading semiconductor corporations for the fourth launch of Nuri and is successfully conducting demonstration operations in actual orbit.
Lee Jeong-gyu, executive director overseeing business at Nara Space, said, "Based on the proven Observer-1A and GyeonggiSat-1A satellite bus systems, this project is very meaningful in that it allows us to verify space-grade semiconductor devices in the real environment," and added, "This project is another recognition by a national research institution of Nara Space's technological capabilities and operational expertise, and we will continue to expand the foundation so that semiconductor devices proven in space can establish themselves as key components in the global market."