- Phison Electronics receives recognition from American aerospace company Skycorp for its 4TB Solid State Drive (SSD), which has been tested aboard the International Space Station and holds potential for NASA’s lunar missions.
- Phison’s 8TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD has undergone rigorous testing to secure NASA Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL-6) certification, making it a key component in space data processing and storage infrastructure.
Phison Electronics’ SSDs Set Sights on the Moon, Aiding NASA’s Lunar Missions
Taipei, Taiwan, September 5, 2023 — Phison Electronics, a leading semiconductor company, has received significant recognition from Skycorp, an American aerospace company, for its development of a 4TB Solid State Drive (SSD). This SSD underwent testing aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2022 and is now being considered for future NASA lunar missions.
Phison and Skycorp: A Partnership for the Stars
In September 2022, Phison and Skycorp announced a collaborative partnership aimed at enhancing space data processing and storage infrastructure. Skycorp integrated Phison’s 4TB SSD into the Intelligent Space Systems Interface (iSSI) experimental aviation electronics equipment deployed on the ISS. The SSD was initially a 4TB variant but has since evolved into an 8TB version.
Rigorous Testing for NASA Certification
To secure NASA’s Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL-6) certification, Phison subjected its 8TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD to a series of stringent tests. These included exposure to deep cryogenic temperatures, electromagnetic environmental certification assessments, and simulated SpaceX Falcon 9 launch conditions. Skycorp provided invaluable assistance throughout these testing phases.
A New Frontier in Space Data Storage
Lonestar, a company specializing in data storage and edge computing services, selected Skycorp as its trusted partner for space-grade hardware infrastructure. This collaboration led to the world’s first data center being dispatched to the lunar surface as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Phison’s 8TB SSD plays a pivotal role in this groundbreaking mission.
Beyond Earth: Phison’s Contributions to Space Exploration
Phison’s enterprise-grade SSD technology has not only been employed in NASA’s “Perseverance” rover that landed on Mars but also addresses the cybersecurity needs of government agencies. The company stands out as one of the few semiconductor companies in Taiwan meeting the stringent R&D criteria set by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
