The US space agency NASA, in collaboration with Microchip Technology, has developed a new High Performance Spaceflight Computing (HPSC) processor for use on spacecraft. The device is currently undergoing the final testing phase at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). According to preliminary estimates, its speed is about 500 times higher than that of radiation-protected chips currently in use in space. Interestingly, NASA originally hoped for only a hundred-fold increase in power.

At the heart of HPSC was the current 64-bit architecture RISC-V with ten computing cores capable of performing vector operations and machine learning algorithms. This is not just a microprocessor, but a complete system on one crystal (SoC) comprising computing blocks, memory, network interfaces, and specialized accelerators. The main advantage is resistance to ionizing radiation: the chip was originally designed to operate in harsh conditions of open space. Since February 2026, HPSC has been testing for radiation, sharp temperature changes, vibration and mechanical impacts.

Thanks to the huge productivity gains, the new processor will be able to process scientific information terabytes directly on board, start a neuronetwork for autonomous landscape analysis and decision-making without delays in transmitting data to Earth. After certification, the HPSC will become a standard platform for future mars ships, orbital satellites, lunar and Martian landing modules.