SpacePHYre: Magnetically Isolated SpaceFibre Links using Gigabit Ethernet PHYs

SpacePHYre is a new on-board communications CODEC that is compatible with SpaceFibre and SpaceWire networks. SpacePHYre uses magnetically isolated Gigabit Eth-ernet PHYs at the physical layer to provide a higher degree of electrical isolation between equipment. Deterministic and reliable communication is supported by providing SpaceFibre Virtual Channels to the user, including the Quality of Service mechanisms, as well as a frame retry mechanism based on Space Fibre. In addition, the magnetic isolation allows power delivery over the data cable to be supported, resulting in harness mass savings as dedicated power cabling to the equipment is no longer required. A prototype SpacePHYre interface supporting power delivery based on terrestrial Power-over-Ethernet standards is presented.