Paper Title: A Satellite-Based Architecture for High-Throughput Storage

Paper Abstract: There is an increasing need to provide high-throughput, high-capacity data storage for satellites which host instruments such as imaging sensors and synthetic aperture radars. NAND flash memories provide an attractive approach to meeting these data storage requirements, providing high storage density, power efficiency, and nonvolatile storage. However, flash memory for space applications also has some important limitations including slow and asymmetric access rates, block-based organization, and limited wear. This talk will describe an architectural approach to this problem that employs precise scheduling of accesses to numerous parallel flash devices to provide high-rate, multi-channel recording as well as simultaneous high-rate data playback. This presentation will also include a description of the methodology of a software-supported architectural design along with several case studies of data storage systems with varying capabilities.

Paper Author: Michael Koets, Staff Engineer, Southwest Research Institute

Author Bio: Michael Koets is a Staff Engineer in the Space Science and Engineering Division of Southwest Research Institute. His recent research includes development of high-speed, high-capacity, multi-channel solid state recorders for Earth orbit and deep-space applications. He holds a BSEE from the University of Oklahoma and a MSEE from the Ohio State University.