Infineon rad-hard semiconductors have once again proven their exceptional reliability, delivering a flawless performance during NASA’s highly anticipated Artemis II mission. After an intensive ten days in space, the Artemis II Orion capsule has successfully returned to Earth, marking a monumental achievement in modern crewed spaceflight. Having approached the Moon and reached the farthest distance from our planet ever achieved by a crewed mission, the safe return of the four astronauts serves as renewed proof that advanced electronic components can thrive in the most extreme conditions of deep space.
At the very heart of the Orion capsule, critical power supply architectures, control systems, and complex data communication networks operated seamlessly, supported entirely by the electronic backbone provided by Infineon Technologies AG. Operating through its specialized IR HiRel (high reliability) division, Infineon continues to cement its position as an indispensable technology partner for global space exploration.
The Artemis II Mission: A Test of Electronic Resilience
Space exploration is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Modern missions demand more data processing, greater electrification, and advanced telemetry, all while facing strict constraints regarding size, weight, and power consumption. In this complex engineering equation, semiconductors have become the central focus.
Mike Mills, Senior Vice President and General Manager of IR HiRel at Infineon, emphasized the importance of this success: “Space programs require technologies and partners they can rely on for decades. Infineon is a critical technology partner, and we are proud to have once again contributed to the success of a historic space mission. The fact that our components performed flawlessly from the first to the last minute of the Artemis II mission is no coincidence. It is the result of decades of engineering expertise, state-of-the-art qualification processes, and a deep understanding of what semiconductors must deliver in space.”
Decades of Space Heritage and Reliability
The success of Artemis II builds upon a vast foundation of aerospace heritage. As far back as the 1970s, Infineon’s predecessor companies were already supplying the first radiation-hardened components for critical NASA and ESA programs. Over the decades, Infineon IR HiRel has supported hundreds of critical missions.
These include powering navigation satellite constellations, ensuring the continuous operation of the International Space Station (ISS), and now, driving the Artemis program forward. Remarkably, components manufactured by Infineon have traveled further than any other human-made objects in history—surpassing 20 billion kilometers from Earth. Today, Infineon continues to invest heavily in the research, development, and manufacturing of the world’s best-performing space electronics.
Surviving the Harsh Reality of Deep Space
The demands placed on semiconductors beyond Earth’s atmosphere are immense. Outside the protective shield of Earth’s magnetic field, high-energy cosmic particles strike electronic components unimpeded. In standard commercial electronics, these strikes can cause immediate data corruption, permanent hardware damage, or catastrophic mission failure.
Infineon rad-hard semiconductors address these destructive mechanisms not through heavy, passive physical shielding, but through highly advanced semiconductor architectures that are fundamentally radiation-resistant by design. Every product undergoes rigorous testing and is qualified to the most stringent international space standards, including MIL-PRF-38535 Class V, MIL-PRF-19500, ESA’s ESCC standards, and NASA EEE-INST-002. This ensures uncompromised reliability when millions of miles from home.
Gallium Nitride (GaN): The Next Frontier in Space Tech
Beyond traditional silicon, Infineon is pioneering the use of wide-bandgap semiconductor materials in orbital applications. Gallium nitride (GaN) is taking center stage, enabling significantly lower switching losses, much higher power density, and faster switching frequencies. For spacecraft designers, this translates directly to a reduction in the size of magnetic components and crucial weight savings—where every single gram impacts launch costs and fuel efficiency.
Built on robust internal manufacturing capabilities, Infineon has introduced an award-winning rad-hard 100-V GaN transistor. Qualified to the elite JANS (Joint Army Navy Space) standard per MIL-PRF-19500, this component brings GaN from a theoretical concept to a proven, flight-ready technology. Notably, Infineon’s JANS-qualified device remains the first and only internally manufactured rad-hard GaN transistor currently available on the market.
A Strategic Partner for the Future of Automation and Space
Infineon offers an extensive rad-hard portfolio that spans Si power MOSFETs, GaN transistors, gate drivers, solid-state relays, rad-hard memory solutions, and radio frequency (RF) devices. By combining in-house radiation testing capabilities with guaranteed long-term product availability, Infineon transcends the role of a mere component supplier.
As a global semiconductor leader in power systems and IoT, Infineon Technologies AG generated revenues of approximately €14.7 billion in the 2025 fiscal year, driven by a global workforce of 57,000 employees. As we look toward future lunar bases and crewed missions to Mars, Infineon remains a strategic technology partner, ensuring the electronic heartbeat of human spaceflight beats strong.
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