Chips headed into space have been the rarefied air of nation states, large telecom companies . . . big players only. However, as costs to go to space go down, and the demand for diverse payloads goes up, there’s a surging demand for semiconductors in space and non-traditional players (like early stage startups) are entering to fill the gap.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Thomas Parry, the founder and CEO of Spherical, to talk about the world of spacecraft electronics. Spherical is not just another player in the industry; they are innovating by designing their own radiation-hardened chips, which they integrate into a modular system of spacecraft electronics. This approach represents a wider, significant shift in how and by whom, space technology is developed and deployed.
Hot Takes and Trends
Sovereignty is pushing the design space wider. The dividend of geopolitical instability is that each continent and country is funding some lever of the supply chain.
Data centers in space are real. But they might not be happening soon, and they may not make sense the way Elon Musk would have us believe. Edge processing is still a legit business need.
The market is evolving rapidly from mil-grade components to COTS. Firms like Spherical are offering fast-turn, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts that are enabling the hard shift into startup suppliers like Spherical.
Open-source is underpinning this moment: the explosion of tools and processes thanks to early projects like OpenROAD and Efabless is having long-term knock-on effects on the market, as every step of EDA now has an open-source option.
The Spherical Value Prop
Thomas explains that Spherical combines three critical elements: systems, silicon, and software. By controlling the silicon, they can create a more efficient technology stack and enhance communication between these components.
“If I imagine a satellite without chips, then it’s essentially just a chunk of useless metal in space.” - Thomas Parry
Spherical’s value prop is that modular design provides more performance and lower cost. I think this shows how much room there is to run in custom silicon applications. The modular approach could keep driving costs down.
Silicon is important in modern aerospace: Tom makes a good point that chips are not merely components; they are the core of a satellite’s functionality and ultimately giving it the gift of computation, communication, and the value of the mission.
Overcoming Challenges in Space Chip Design
Designing chips for space is no small feat. There are unique challenges posed by the environment, such as radiation and extreme temperatures. Spherical addresses these challenges by modeling how individual transistors respond to radiation, allowing for better design decisions.
“By designing the chips ourselves, we have complete control down to the individual transistor.” - Thomas Parry
This meticulous approach reduces the need for extensive testing, ultimately lowering costs and enhancing reliability.
Space Data Centers
We also touched on what got us started on LinkedIn: the concept of data centers in space.
Tom acknowledged the skepticism surrounding this idea but emphasized there is a legitimate and growing need for intelligence and processing power in space. Application spaces like real-time data processing closer to the source reduce latency, creating a compelling business case for more processing in space.
How open source and the fabless model are revolutionizing aerospace technology
Looking ahead over the next few yearsSpherical of semiconductor design and aerospace, Spherical’s approach exemplifies how controlling silicon can lead to transformative changes in the industry. The ability to design and integrate custom chips enhances performance and at the same time redefines what is possible in space exploration.
Listen
To dive deeper into this conversation and explore the intricacies of space technology, listen to the full episode with Thomas Parry.
