New Generation Power System for Space Applications

The Deep Space Avionics (DSA) Project is developing a new generation of power system building blocks. Using application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and power switching modules a scalable power system can be constructed for use on multiple deep space missions including future missions to Mars, comets, Jupiter and its moons. The key developments of the DSA power system effort are five power ASICs and a module for power switching. These components enable a modular and scalable design approach, which can result in a wide variety of power system architectures to meet diverse mission requirements and environments. Each component is radiation hardened to one megarad total dose. The power switching module can be used for power distribution to regular spacecraft loads, to propulsion valves and actuation of pyrotechnic devices. The number of switching elements per load, pyrotechnic firings and valve drivers can be scaled depending on mission needs. Telemetry data is available from the switch module via an I 2 C data bus. The DSA power system components enable power management and distribution for a variety of power buses and power system architectures employing different types of energy storage and power sources. This paper will describe each power ASIC’s key performance characteristics as well as recent prototype test results. The power switching module test results will be discussed and will demonstrate its versatility as a multipurpose switch. Finally, the combination of these components will illustrate some of the possible power system architectures achievable from small single string systems to large fully redundant systems.