Electronics Components in Space Suit Applications

1
Electronics Components in Space Suit Applications

• Nicholas Szandor Hakobian

2
Overview

• Determine the range of atmospheric and radiation
  extremes that electronic equipment can possibly
  exist in.

3
Environment of Space

• Space is a harsh environment for planet based
  life and technology.
• A space suit has to be designed not only to
  transport at atmosphere-in-a-suit for a person,
  but also the atmosphere needed for the control
  systems themselves.

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Environmental Concerns

• Heat Buildup
• Electronics are very sensitive to heat. The
  buildup of heat on a surface due to inadequate
  cooling can cause electronics to stop working
  very quickly

• Radiation Effects
• Random particles striking a semiconductor can
  cause the properties of the semiconductor to
  change at an atomic scale preventing the
  component from working properly

5
History of the Problem

• 1950s
• Beginnings of space exploration
• Simple (compared to modern computers) electronic
  devices were sent up that were limited in their
  tasks

ENIAC Computer 1946
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Further Electronic Development

• 1960s to 1980s
• Companies expanded their electronics divisions to
  include smaller, more reliable, and cheaper
  electronics production methods (eg. switch from
  vacuum tubes to transistors)
• Even though companies and groups such as NASA had
  to be concerned about the effects of radiation
  (Van Alden Belts, etc.) there had not been an
  exhaustive amount of research done until this
  period.
• The studies that were conducted were adequate for
  the job needed, however, there was much left to
  be desired.

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Wide Open Space Commercialization

• 1985 to Present
• Long term radiation effects program launched
  (CRRES)
• Mainly covered effects of radiation on
  semi-conductor devices
• Developed testing procedures as well as the spot
  shielding method of radiation protection
• Their conclusion More testing needed to be
  completely sure of safety

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Example of Modifications to Electronics

• IBM Thinkpads used
• They serve as the space shuttle payload
  computers.
• Insufficient cooling systems to work in
  microgravity forced NASA to add more complicated
  cooling systems
• Added specialized power and Velcro to maintain
  shuttle compatibility

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What We Have Found From History

• Special Techniques are required to deal with
  electronic systems in space.
• Atmospheric conditions (waste heat removal) and
  radiation effects are two examples of what can
  affect an electrical system (especially in a
  space suit).

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Objectives

• Design two experiments to independently find what
  the optimum conditions for electronics to work in
  are.
• Use as many off the shelf components as possible
  to reduce cost. Use actual microchips for testing
  only in the final stage (future applications of
  the research)

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Atmospheric Test
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Details

• Evacuated Bell Jar to simulate various pressures
• Refrigeration unit to mimic cooling system on
  space suit
• Heat source to simulate a microprocessor
• Thermometers to measure heat buildup on test
  surface and in various places inside the jar.
• Insulation around jar to protect accuracy of data.

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Radiation Test
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Radiation Test Details

• A source of varying types of radiation will be
  passed through different types of material to
  determine which materials absorb most of the
  radiation using the high Z spot shielding
  technique
• Great care needs to be taken so the actual
  performers of the experiment do not receive any
  dangerous levels of radiation. This is why a
  single person should be dedicated to the
  preparation, care, and safety of the radioactive
  material.

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Test Procedures

• Both groups can work independently of each other
  to obtain as much information as possible
• Each test with each material should be done at
  least 4 or 5 times to find any random problems
  with the experiment that may not be foreseen

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Management Structure

• Principle Investigator
• Atmospheric Lead
• Data Manager
• Radiation Lead
• Data Manager
• Radiation Specialist

17
Budget

• Atmospheric 400-500 if university equipment
  such as vacuum pump and bell jar can be used.
• Radiation - 400-500 in materials alone. Since
  certain safety procedures may need to be taken
  into consideration this may need to be increased
• This does not take into consideration the payment
  of 4-5 people to operate instruments. If people
  power is a problem, the projects could be done
  one at a time reducing the man power to two
  (possible three) people. If man power comes from
  the SSOAR group, it is possible that they would
  not need to be paid.

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Conclusions

• The atmospheric and radiation effects problems
  can be overcome if the proper tests and
  precautions are taken into account.
• Future phases of research
• Integrating the tests Combine the atmospheric
  and radiation tests into one chamber and test
  using an actual microchip of the same time that
  could be used on a space suit. This should happen
  while the electronics system is being developed
  to ensure that the components they are planning
  on using are appropriate for the task they are
  being used for.