From a hardware perspective, NASA’s currently deployed state-of-the-art (SOA) in space computing utilizes 20-year-old technology that may be inadequate for future missions. NASA’s intention is that the new SOA for in-space processing will be High Performance Spaceflight Computing (HPSC) Chiplet based. However, in order to provide advanced computing capabilities and application programming support, a fault tolerant, reliable real-time (RT) Linux OS that makes available the full capabilities of the HPSC Chiplet is highly desired. The proposed research effort will substantially enhance the SOA by delivering a flight qualifiable, verifiably reliable, fault tolerant, dynamically upgradeable, RT Linux for the HPSC Chiplet, capable of supporting parallel and heterogeneous processing for autonomy, robotics and science codes. Antara’s fully configurable Reliable RT Linux will provide a natively multi-threaded, secure and re-entrant kernel with near-time determinism and advanced preemptive scheduling. Furthermore, the kernel will be compatible with RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu and custom filesystems for wide applicability. Phase I efforts will deliver a TRL-4 prototype and associated documentation to establish the feasibility and performance potential and enable other researchers to contribute to the HPSC Ecosystem. Successful implementation of the innovation will enhance the HPSC Ecosystem and support major programs in Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate and Science Mission Directorate. The innovation will deliver a cross-cutting capability to support potential near-term infusion targets such as Mars Fetch Rover, WFIRST/Chronograph, Lunar Gateway, SPLICE/Lunar Lander and the Moon to Mars campaign.
Antara's robust, fault-tolerant, reliable RT Linux designed to make available the full capabilities of the HPSC Chiplet is a horizontal (i.e., fundamental enabling/cross-cutting) capability that will enhance the HPSC Ecosystem and support major programs in Human Exploration & Operations Mission Directorate and Science Mission Directorate. Potential near-term infusion targets include Mars Fetch Rover, WFIRST/Chronograph, Lunar Gateway, the SPLICE/Lunar Lander and the Moon to Mars campaign.
Key Space Situation Awareness elements such as Data Integration, Exploitation and Characterization SOA will be significantly enhanced by the capabilities of the HPSC Chiplet and Antara's Reliable RT Linux. Commercial Aerospace companies collaborating with NASA that are adopting the HPSC Chiplet will be able to license Antara's innovation for advanced parallel and heterogeneous processing.