Rakon Announces Game-Changing Radiation-Hardened ASIC For Space Oscillators
Rakon is proud to announce its new MercuryR Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), specifically designed in-house to withstand the harsh radiation environment encountered in space. With a TID (total-ionizing-dose) resistance of up to 100kRAD, the new ASIC enables Rakon to develop cost-effective miniature Space OCXOs for both Traditional Space and NewSpace.
Rakon is the world’s leading provider of IC-OCXOs, reliably delivering high volumes of its Mercury ASIC-based OCXOs for high-end applications such as 5G infrastructure and data centres. With MercuryR, Rakon has further developed this Mercury ASIC to be used in Space environments resulting in smaller Space oscillators with better frequency stability (from +/-100ppb down to a few ppb over temperature), higher shock and vibration resistance and a reduced Bill of Materials for increased reliability. The new MercuryR IC-OCXOs also feature low phase noise and low power consumption and come in a hermetically sealed package, meaning the performance does not change under atmospheric pressure (PA) or vacuum.
Sinan Altug, CEO at Rakon, says: “Our MercuryR ASIC is a great example of Rakon’s ability to innovate and carry over expertise from one industry to another. The Space IC-OCXO will be a game-changer for the Traditional Space and NewSpace industry who currently rely on more complex and costly discrete oscillators.”
The first available products featuring the MercuryR ASIC are the RK508NS (NewSpace) for which Engineering Models and Flight Models are now available, and the RK508HR (HiRel) which is expected to be qualified in 2025.
Rakon is a leading supplier of frequency control and timing equipment, and a top-3 subsystem supplier, for the fast growing NewSpace and Low Earth Orbit satellite ecosystem. The company also has a 40-year history of working with leading agencies such as NASA, ISRO and ESA to develop groundbreaking products for traditional space programmes, including ISRO’s recent mission to explore the Moon’s South Pole.
Rakon recently announced a contract win, worth up to NZD$17M over 3 years, to supply its Master Reference Oscillator (MRO) subsystems for a new Low Earth Orbit satellite constellation: https://www.rakon.com/news/rakon-wins-$17M-satellite-subsystem-contract
For more information, visit www.rakon.com/space.
Source: Rakon