Phison’s SSD technology earns historic NASA certification

The announcement - which comes shortly after the news that NASA’s Artemis spacecraft has safely arrived on the moon - reveals that Phison’s solid state drive (SSD) technology has completed the necessary tests to be included in the Lonestar Data Holdings’ historic first lunar data centre mission. 

Phison’s SSD passes NASA’s technology readiness tests

Phison has announced that its 8TB M.2 2280 SSD solution has completed the required TRL-6 flight qualification tests.

The SSD has been selected by the space logistics company Skycorp - Lonestar’s contractor and Phison’s partner - for its lunar data centre mission, which is scheduled for the second half of 2023.

“After a comprehensive testing and certification process, Phison is thrilled that our SSD technology has passed all the rigorous requirements for Lonestar’s upcoming Moon mission,’’ commented K.S. Pua, Phison CEO. 

“We are excited about playing a vital role on this important mission, and other future ones as we continue our foray into the new frontier. We also want to thank our outstanding customer, Lonestar, and partner, Skycorp, for helping to make this happen.”

To gain the NASA Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL-6) certification, Phison’s 8TB M.2 SSD had to pass a series of tests, including immersing the technology in deep cryogenic temperatures and vacuum conditions, replicating those found on the moon, alongside an electromagnetic environment qualification and the stress and environmental tests (simulating the launch on the SpaceX Falcon 9).

The details of the Lonestar NASA mission

Lonestar is working to launch a series of data centres to the lunar surface, in order to provide off-site archival and edge processing services.

It is currently sending the first data centre to the Moon as a payload on Intuitive Machines’ NOVA-C lander under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programme. 

“Phison is proving to be a superb provider,” said Christopher Stott, Founder and CEO of Lonestar Data Holdings.

“We are truly heartened that the qualification tests have gone well, and that our payload has passed these fundamental next steps for spaceflight. Our next giant leap is the Moon itself.”

“Space is in transition, and the use of quality commercial components in a space environment is often complicated,” added Dennis Wingo, Skycorp CEO.

“Phison has demonstrated not only the quality of their products but their incredible product engineering support for our efforts.”