Distributed storage system for satellite platform based on SpaceWire network: SpaceWire missions and applications, short paper

To satisfy more and more complicated requirements on information recording, processing, exchange etc. in newly developed intelligent satellites, a distributed storage system is designed based on SpaceWire network in satellite platform. In this distributed storage system, a SpaceWire router unit serving as the core device of star network connects several nodes, including onboard computers, namely, satellite management unit (SMU), data interface units (DIU) and other nodes like attitude and orbit sensors, space environment monitor instruments and payload controllers, etc. A certain number of standard flash memory modules are separately incorporated into SMU and DIUs to provide comprehensive data recording and exchange service for all nodes in the network. All memory modules are centrally controlled by SMU software to store authorized data in specific type files and retrieve data according to policies set by remote memory access protocol commands. Memory modules that can run in parallel in the distributed storage system produce very high data throughput, which boosts satellite platform capability to a great extent. Backup mechanism among memory modules is deployed and any module can be replaced by others when it meets failure, this makes the storage system robust and reliable. Testing and verification work performed on the distributed storage system shows that the system works quite well and also reveals its attractive effect on improving satellite platform efficiency.