NASA, Microchip Build 100x Spaceflight Chip for Moon and Mars Missions
Updated
Updated · Tom's Hardware · May 12
NASA, Microchip Build 100x Spaceflight Chip for Moon and Mars Missions
4 articles · Updated · Tom's Hardware · May 12
NASA said its new High-Performance Spaceflight Computing project with Microchip will produce a system-on-a-chip delivering 100 times the computing capacity of current spaceflight processors.
The design comes in two versions: a radiation-hardened chip for geosynchronous, deep-space and long-duration missions, and a radiation-tolerant model for low Earth orbit satellites and commercial use.
The chip will combine computing and networking on one device, aiming to cut spacecraft cost, complexity and power use while letting operators shut down unneeded functions to conserve energy.
NASA said multiple chips could be linked through advanced Ethernet to support more autonomous spacecraft operations, including rover navigation and onboard image analysis.
The agency also sees Earth-based uses in drones, energy grids, medical equipment, communications, AI and data transmission, extending the project beyond space missions.
Can NASA's new chip outpace commercial rivals like Nvidia in the race to dominate orbital computing?
Will this 100x faster processor finally end the era of prohibitively expensive, outdated chips in space exploration?
Is this powerful new 'space brain' the one missing piece needed to build a permanent base on the Moon?
100x More Powerful: NASA’s HPSC Spaceflight Processor Sets New Standard for Secure, Fault-Tolerant Computing
Overview
As of March 2026, the High Performance Spaceflight Computing (HPSC) processor, developed by Microchip for NASA JPL, achieved flight qualification, marking a major milestone in space technology. HPSC delivers over 100 times the compute power of current solutions with its multi-core, fault-tolerant RISC-V CPUs, enabling advanced capabilities for future space missions. Early evaluation units were available in 2025, allowing integration and testing within the space community. This breakthrough positions HPSC to revolutionize space missions by providing unprecedented computational power, supporting new levels of autonomy, artificial intelligence, and mission resilience.