Infineon Semiconductors Support Artemis II Success
According to eeNews Europe, NASA’s Artemis II mission has successfully returned to Earth. This mission not only accomplished exploration beyond Earth’s orbit but also provided crucial practical validation for on-board electronic equipment in deep space environments. The success of the mission highlights the critical role of radiation-hardened semiconductor design in the reliability of spacecraft.
Infineon Technologies, a global semiconductor leader, released a report stating that its radiation-hardened semiconductors maintained fault-free operation throughout the mission. These specialized components, developed by Infineon’s IR HiRel division, successfully supported core functions of the Orion capsule, including power management, system control, and data communication. Mike Mills, Senior Vice President of Infineon IR HiRel, noted that as space missions become increasingly complex and electrification demands grow, breakthroughs in semiconductor technology have become the core of space exploration.
Infineon’s technical accumulation in the space sector dates back to the 1970s, with its components widely used in satellite systems, the International Space Station, and early NASA missions. Its radiation-hardened products have passed multiple rigorous certifications, including MIL-PRF-38535 Class V and ESA ESCC, enabling effective protection against the threats of high-energy particle radiation.
In addition, Infineon is actively advancing the application of third-generation semiconductor gallium nitride (GaN) in the space sector. Its in-house manufactured 100 V GaN transistors have obtained JANS standard certification, marking a significant advancement in wide-bandgap devices for orbital applications. GaN technology offers the advantages of reducing switching losses and improving power density, which can significantly reduce system weight and provide better solutions for the stringent design requirements of spacecraft. Infineon will continue to meet the needs of future deep space missions through system-level optimization.
