Small sats, custom microelectronics, and the end of Moore’s Law

Small satellites and their reduced size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) requirements are challenging microelectronics suppliers to deliver the performance of commercial technology while also maintaining reliability. In this podcast, I discuss these challenges with Tom Smelker, vice president and general manager for Mercury Systems Custom Microelectronic Solutions in Phoenix, Arizona. We also cover sensor processing tends and how artificial intelligence will impact future space applications. Smelker also chats about what he calls the end of Moore’s Law and its potential impact on the military electronics market. This podcast is sponsored by: Aerospace Tech Week, which will now take place March 24-26 2021 in Toulouse, FRANCE after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show encompasses six different events — Avionics Expo, Connected Aircraft Europe, Aerospace Testing Europe, MRO IT, Flight OPS IT, and FACE. To learn more about Aerospace Tech Week 2021, visit www.aerospacetechweek.com.