L3-CDH-BUS-SPWI
CRITICAL
COMMAND CONTROL
Level 3 · hardware
SpaceWire Network
SpaceWire Point-to-Point Data Links
SpaceWire data links providing deterministic low-latency communication between critical nodes
Purpose
SpaceWire data links providing deterministic low-latency communication between critical nodes
Context
Child of L2-CDH-BUS
Principles
- ▸SpaceWire provides 2-200 Mbps data rates with deterministic latency
- ▸LVDS signaling enables high-speed data over lightweight twisted-pair cables
- ▸Credit-based flow control prevents data loss without requiring large buffers
- ▸Standardized by ECSS-E-ST-50-12C for European and international space missions
Typical implementations
- ▸ESA Gaia spacecraft SpaceWire network (100+ SpW links)
- ▸BepiColombo SpaceWire data handling system
- ▸ExoMars rover SpaceWire backbone
Lunar considerations
- ▸Radiation-induced single-event errors require link-level error detection
- ▸Long cable runs across Ark modules may need SpaceWire repeaters
- ▸Connector reliability over 100 years of thermal cycling
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | SpaceWire data links providing deterministic low-latency communication between critical nodes |
Physical
| materials | LVDS driver/receiver ICs, Shielded twisted-pair cable, Micro-D connectors |
Interfaces
Provides
- Deterministic data links for critical subsystems
Requires
- Power for SpaceWire routers/interfaces (~5W per node)
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "SpaceWire Network" (L3-CDH-BUS-SPWI). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-CDH-BUS-SPWI
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.