Why NewSpace startups should ditch standard COTS oscillators for radiation-resilient ones

If you're building small satellite platforms or payloads for Low Earth Orbit, chances are you're trying to move fast, keep costs low, and get to orbit with minimal fuss. That’s why commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components are so tempting—they’re cheap, easy to source, and often “good enough.” But when it comes to oscillators—the small components that provide the precise timing necessary for communication, navigation, and data processing — “good enough” will leave you open to significant risk and may jeopardise your mission’s success.

Let’s dive into why radiation-tolerant or radiation-hardened (rad-hard) oscillators are worth the extra investment over your run-of-the-mill COTS products you can find anywhere online.

The Space Radiation Environment: A Constant Threat

Space – even Low Earth Orbit - is a hostile environment filled with high-energy particles from solar flares, cosmic rays, and trapped radiation belts. These particles can cause single-event effects (SEEs), total ionizing dose (TID) degradation, and damage in electronic components. Oscillators, being sensitive devices, can be particularly affected. A single radiation-induced glitch can lead to frequency drift, phase noise degradation, or even complete failure, disrupting satellite operations or rendering payloads inoperable.

Why Radiation-Resilient Oscillators Matter

‘Radiation-resilient’ oscillators, be it radiation-hardened (specifically designed and manufactured to withstand high levels of radiation) or radiation-tolerant (selected, tested, and sometimes modified to tolerate certain levels of radiation), are optimised to withstand the effects of space radiation. They can incorporate shielding, redundant circuitry, and radiation-tolerant materials to ensure stable performance over the satellite’s operational life. Here’s why they are essential:

1. Reliability in Orbit: Rad-resilient oscillators maintain frequency stability and low phase noise even under prolonged radiation exposure. This reliability is crucial for timing-sensitive applications like GNSS, inter-satellite links, and scientific measurements
2. Mission Longevity: Satellites are expected to operate for years without maintenance. A failure in the timing system due to radiation damage can prematurely end a mission. Rad-resilient components help ensure that satellites meet and even exceed their design lifetimes.
3. Regulatory and Insurance Considerations: Many launch providers and insurers require radiation analysis and mitigation strategies. Using rad-resilient oscillators can simplify compliance and reduce insurance premiums by demonstrating a commitment to mission assurance.
4. Cost of Failure: While COTS oscillators may be cheaper upfront, the cost of a failed mission—lost data, replacement launches, reputational damage—can far outweigh the savings. Investing in rad-resilient components is a form of risk management.

Balancing Cost and Performance

It’s true that rad-resilient components are more expensive and may have longer lead times. This is because they enable long missions (up to 20 years) with high levels of radiation (up to 100 krads TID) with low single-event risk. 

However, advances in radiation-tolerant COTS (RT-COTS) technology, selection and testing are beginning to bridge the gap between affordability and resilience.

Rakon’s NewSpace product portfolio is a great example of this. Combining the expertise from our high-reliability space and 5G telecommunications and positioning heritage, we have developed a range of radiation-resilient subsystems and oscillators (min. 30krads TID) that are cost-effective and available in larger volumes with short lead times.

Our New Space products include

• GNSS Receivers
• Software Defined Radio Solutions
• Master Reference Oscillators (MROs)
• Ultra Stable Oscillators (USOs) and OCXOs
• Low Power Low Noise Oscillators
• Clock Drivers

Conclusion

As NewSpace ventures push the boundaries of what’s possible in orbit, ensuring the reliability of foundational systems like oscillators is non-negotiable. Rakon’s NewSpace product range offers the robustness needed to survive and thrive in space, making them a smart investment for any satellite platform or payload. In the race to innovate, cutting corners on radiation resilience is a gamble few can afford to lose.

For more information about our NewSpace product portfolio visit rakon.com/newspace