Challenges of Remote FPGA Configuration for Space Applications

There are many unique challenges associated with providing remote access to space experimental payloads. The limited bandwidth to the space craft, the inability to physically monitor and probe the payload, and the management of access time for various researchers working on the project all compound to create a challenging work environment. The Configurable Fault Tolerant Processor (CFTP) project aims to alleviate many of the difficulties associated with remote payload operation. We have made use of modular FPGA design, which allows us to transfer only small application modules rather than full configuration files. This dramatically reduces the bandwidth required to upload new applications as we discover new experiments for the CFTP after launch. Another unique aspect of the CFTP project is the collaborative effort in its development. We must manage access time for universities and research institutions across the country for running experiments on the CFTP, downloading CFTP documents, and analyzing telemetry after launch.