EPISODE · Nov 21, 2025 · 42 MIN
Your Laptop Would Die in Space
from Thinking On Paper · host Mark Fielding and Jeremy Gilbertson
Radiation-hardened electronics don't get headlines. But nothing in orbit works without them.Starship, ISS, Starlink, Project Kuiper—all depend on hardware that survives what would kill your laptop in seconds.Danny Andreev, CEO of Sunburn Schematics, designs systems for real space missions. He explains what keeps spacecraft alive.The threats:- Radiation (particles flip bits, corrupt memory, fry circuits)- Vacuum (no air for cooling or pressure regulation)- Thermal shock (swing from -150°C to +150°C)- Gate-driver failures (power systems fail under extreme conditions)We talk about:- How particle-induced faults happen at the chip level- Why space-grade electronics cost 100x terrestrial versions- Methods to mitigate radiation damage (shielding, redundancy, error correction)- Why the next phase of space isn't glossy renders—it's industrial infrastructure- How off-world supply chains will use proven terrestrial machinery- Why cheaper short-lived satellites might beat expensive hardened ones- Megawatt-class power standards (mirroring EV infrastructure for space)The shift: Space is becoming an industry, not a spectacle.The unromantic truth: You don't need perfect hardware. You need redundant, repairable, replaceable systems. The factory approach, not the museum piece.This is how space becomes routine.---Guest: Danny Andreev, CEO, Sunburn SchematicsTopics: Space electronics, radiation hardening, spacecraft power, thermal management, space infrastructure, satellite design--TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Thinking On Paper Trailer(02:59) The Role of DC to DC Converters in Space(03:46) Challenges of Power Systems in Space(05:30) Designing for Reliability in Space(07:13) The Impact of Radiation on Electronics(08:52) Testing and Validation of Space Electronics(11:03) Environmental Challenges for Space Electronics(12:28) Success Rates and Lessons Learned(15:22) The Importance of Music in Space Missions(22:30) The Future of Space Exploration(25:23) Building a Lunar Economy(27:51) Power Conversion in Space(31:57) Exciting Developments in Space Technology(35:13) Philosophical Insights on Space and Life--Say hello! Connect more technology dots with us elsewhere: Listen to every podcastFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow Mark on LinkedInFollow Jeremy on LinkedInRead our SubstackEmail: [email protected]
What this episode covers
Radiation-hardened electronics don't get headlines. But nothing in orbit works without them.Starship, ISS, Starlink, Project Kuiper—all depend on hardware that survives what would kill your laptop in seconds.Danny Andreev, CEO of Sunburn Schematics, designs systems for real space missions. He explains what keeps spacecraft alive.The threats:- Radiation (particles flip bits, corrupt memory, fry circuits)- Vacuum (no air for cooling or pressure regulation)- Thermal shock (swing from -150°C to +150°C)- Gate-driver failures (power systems fail under extreme conditions)We talk about:- How particle-induced faults happen at the chip level- Why space-grade electronics cost 100x terrestrial versions- Methods to mitigate radiation damage (shielding, redundancy, error correction)- Why the next phase of space isn't glossy renders—it's industrial infrastructure- How off-world supply chains will use proven terrestrial machinery- Why cheaper short-lived satellites might beat expensive hardened ones- Megawatt-class power standards (mirroring EV infrastructure for space)The shift: Space is becoming an industry, not a spectacle.The unromantic truth: You don't need perfect hardware. You need redundant, repairable, replaceable systems. The factory approach, not the museum piece.This is how space becomes routine.---Guest: Danny Andreev, CEO, Sunburn SchematicsTopics: Space electronics, radiation hardening, spacecraft power, thermal management, space infrastructure, satellite design--TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Thinking On Paper Trailer(02:59) The Role of DC to DC Converters in Space(03:46) Challenges of Power Systems in Space(05:30) Designing for Reliability in Space(07:13) The Impact of Radiation on Electronics(08:52) Testing and Validation of Space Electronics(11:03) Environmental Challenges for Space Electronics(12:28) Success Rates and Lessons Learned(15:22) The Importance of Music in Space Missions(22:30) The Future of Space Exploration(25:23) Building a Lunar Economy(27:51) Power Conversion in Space(31:57) Exciting Developments in Space Technology(35:13) Philosophical Insights on Space and Life--Say hello! Connect more technology dots with us elsewhere: Listen to every podcastFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow Mark on LinkedInFollow Jeremy on LinkedInRead our SubstackEmail: [email protected]
NOW PLAYING
Your Laptop Would Die in Space
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Apr 22, 2025 ·32m
Feb 27, 2025 ·0m
Sep 20, 2024 ·57m
Aug 7, 2024 ·16m