"The market is booming due to new space players"

With a focus on commercialising space technology, space exploration and satellite technology are transitioning from the traditional “Old Space” paradigms to the dynamic, cost-effective, and reliable realm of “New Space.”

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Adopting commercial off-the-shelf components, innovative engineering approaches and a burgeoning market driven by private ventures are key accelerators of this shift.

With a decade of research expertise in semiconductor design for space applications, Zero Error Systems (ZES) is seizing the pivotal moment to bridge the gap between conventional and commercial electronics. In an exclusive interview with Punam Singh, ZES Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Dr Wei Shu uncovered how advancements in semiconductor technology, particularly RadiationHardened by Design (RHBD) devices, are revolutionising the space sector. Excerpts:

What are ‘Old Space’ and ‘New Space,’ and what do these terms mean?

‘Old Space’ refers to the conventional space grid, where only government agencies like NASA, ESA, and others could send satellites in the past. They had very expensive programmes that cost billions. And why do these programmes cost billions? Because the launch costs, including the material and satellite electronics, are very high. For instance, Old Space uses the same chips as New Space, but while the latter utilises commercially available chips, Old Space still uses expensive ones. The price difference for the same functionality can range from USD 1,000 to USD 10,000. This also means that a chip that costs USD 1 commercially could cost USD 1,000 in the space grid. In Old Space, expensive chips are used, typically two to three generations behind in performance and often subject to export control regulations.