Space Qualified Magnetic Disk

Highly reliable data storage for satellites and spacecraft is a challenging technology. The space environment is a unique combination of many environmental factors which impact the reliability and even the very survival of electronic systems. The need for space qualified memory is becoming even more important with the advent of on-board data processing which requires rapid access to large data bases. The overall design of the magnetic &sk must also take into account some unique design considerations. All materials must be chosen with material outgassing as a consideration. The design must also provide an operational life of several years of unattended operation. The reliability of the parts used in the design must meet space requirements and the qualified design configuration must be controlled to ensure continuedreliability through the inevitable component and manufacturing process changes. This paper describes the unique environmental and design considerations that must be taken into account for a magnetic disk that is designed to operate for years in the space environment.