TTTECH and Beyond Gravity Austria Qualify Avionics Platform for Space Missions

The platform has been targeted for its first significant application within NASA's Artemis program and is now set up for reuse in various missions to the Moon and beyond. This development aims to accelerate critical programs utilizing technology ready for human spaceflight.

In space, safety-critical data networks must be fault-tolerant and resilient enough to endure radiation and extreme temperatures. Systems designed for longevity need to adhere to stringent standards and pass extensive testing before qualification. Christian Fidi, Senior Vice President of TTTECH Aerospace, stated that achieving a qualification for a human-spaceflight-capable platform marks a crucial milestone. The initiative combined radiation-hardness assurance, advanced packaging, robust hardware design, and validated software into a single standardized product.

The networking and computing platform is foundational for deep space data networks, enabling seamless data transfer between modules, subsystems, and entire spacecraft. It is offered as a commercial-off-the-shelf solution while remaining adaptable for various specific applications. The platform employs Ethernet for interoperability and incorporates a deterministic component (Time-Triggered Ethernet) for precise scheduling and clock synchronization, promoting fail-safe communication and simplifying integration and testing.

The collaboration between TTTECH and Beyond Gravity Austria is based on a commercial implementation of Deterministic Ethernet compatible with Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), which is already prevalent in industrial and automotive sectors and is now being explored for aerospace and defense applications.

Additionally, the recently certified platform includes a hosting unit developed by Beyond Gravity Austria, along with TTEthernet interface cards and switching units co-developed with TTTECH. This platform has achieved product qualification under the European Space Agency’s (ESA) General Support Technology Programme (GSTP), covering the entire product baseline, including the hosting unit, interface cards, TTEController ASIC, and the integrated software layer. This accomplishment lays the groundwork for multiple spacecraft applications, significantly reducing program risks and simplifying integration efforts for future missions.

TTTECH has emerged as one of the first Austrian companies to develop software compliant with ESA’s highest-criticality Category A standard. After years of development and collaboration with industry leaders, its entire space product portfolio is now qualified for human spaceflight missions, reinforcing TTTECH’s commitment to delivering safety-critical, high-assurance solutions to ESA, NASA, and their prime contractors.

The Lunar Gateway initiative represents the principal program for utilizing this qualified product platform, with specific units being qualified for the Habitation and Logistics Module (HALO). This includes advanced avionics components such as a fault-tolerant TTESwitching Unit and sophisticated Avionics Core Units. The qualification data packages and product heritage are now available for similar exploration architectures, including lunar habitats and commercial space stations, where reliable onboard communication is critical to mission success.

TTTECH is expanding its Ethernet-based offerings in response to growth opportunities in satellite applications and lunar exploration with more compact software-based systems and a Terabit router. Christian Fidi emphasized the potential benefits of this standardized platform for upcoming space initiatives, stating that a qualified Ethernet-based solution will allow customers to build upon a proven product baseline, ensuring mission success and astronaut safety in future lunar and exploratory missions.