From a hardware perspective, NASA’s currently deployed state-of-the-art (SOA) in space computing may be inadequate for future missions. NASA's intention is that the new SOA for in space processing will be 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. During the Phase I effort, Antara established a foundational framework with a repeatable, deterministic RT kernel minimization, build and test methodology utilizing stable mainline Linux kernels. RT test results show that the Worst-Case Execution Time (WCET) of Antara's prototype is significantly lower and more deterministic than those of the vanilla Linux kernels. Phase II efforts will further enhance and harden Antara's RT Linux Prototype for HPSC. Antara will also benchmark and analyze its RT Linux kernel with the HPSC Middleware and the cFE/cFS scheduler. The RT Linux Prototype will be bench-tested and optimized on HPSC Chiplet based boards to establish and demonstrate deterministic performance to achieve TRL 7. 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. The proposed innovation is significant and will enable rapid development and infusion of a flight qualifiable, reliable, dynamically upgradeable RT Linux to the HPSC Ecosystem. Since many science applications already start off development in Linux, Antara's RT Linux will remove any extra porting steps saving effort and reducing risk. Successful infusion of the cross-cutting innovation will enhance the HPSC Ecosystem and support major programs. The innovation will support potential near-term infusion targets such as Mars Fetch Rover, Lunar Gateway, SPLICE/Lunar Lander and the Moon to Mars campaign.
Antara's robust, fault-tolerant and reliable RT Linux is a cross-cutting capability that will enhance the HPSC Ecosystem, enable parallel processing and support multiple major programs in Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate and Science Mission Directorate.
Potential near-term infusion targets include Mars Fetch Rover, WFIRST/Chronograph, Lunar Gateway, SPLICE/Lunar Lander and the Moon to Mars campaign.
Space Situational Awareness Data Integration, Exploitation, Characterization SOA will be significantly enhanced by the capabilities of the HPSC Chiplet and Antara’s Reliable RT Linux.
Commercial space companies and primes adopting the HPSC Chiplet will be able to license Antara's innovation for advanced parallel and heterogeneous processing.
Remote Scientific Edge Sensing/Computing will be enhanced.