Paper Session III-C - Technology Transfer of Military Space Microprocessor Development

Over the past 11 years Phillips Laboratory has led the development of microprocessors and computers for USAF space and strategic missile applications. As a result of their programs, advanced computer technology is available for use by civil and commercial space customers as well. The Generic VHSIC Spaceborne Computer (GVSC) program began in 1985 at the USAF Phillips Laboratory to fulfill a deficiency in the availability of space-qualified data and control processors. GVSC developed a radiation hardened multi-chip version of the 16-bit, Mil-Std 1750A microprocessor. The follow-on program to the GVSC, the Advanced Spaceborne Computer Module (ASCM) program, was initiated by Phillips Laboratory to establish two industrial sources for complete, radiation-hardened 16-bit and 32-bit computers and microelectronic components. Development of the Control Processor Module (CPM), the first of two contract phases, completed in 1994 with the availability of two sources for space-qualified, 16-bit Mil-Std- 1750A computers, cards, multi-chip modules, and integrated circuits. The second phase of the program, the Advanced Technology Insertion Module (ATIM), is currently scheduled to complete at the end of 1997. ATIM is developing two single board computers based on 32-bit reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processors. GVSC, CPM, and ATIM technologies are flying or baselined in the majority of today’s DoD, NASA, and commercial satellite systems