RadPC (Radiation-Tolerant Computing) technology on the Raven Aerostar Thunderhead

The launch of the RadPC (Radiation-Tolerant Computing) technology on the Raven Aerostar Thunderhead high-altitude balloon system on 7/21/2021 out of Sioux Falls, ID. RadPC is designed to replace failed processors in real time through a redundant core processing system. It includes multiple cores on a single chip, allowing the system to switch from a failed core to a working core. RadPC also includes background memory scrubbing and error correction codes to further ensure its performance and fault-recovery capabilities. The computing system underwent two flight tests in 2021, supported by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program. This testing and validation were critical preparation for its inclusion on Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander, which launched on Jan. 15, 2025, and landed on the Moon on Mar. 2, 2025. On that flight, RadPC successfully operated in transit and on the lunar surface, verifying low-cost solutions to mitigate radiation effects on computers to make missions safer and more cost effective.