SpaceFibre

Release of STAR-Ultra PCIe Single-Lane Router, SpaceFibre PCIe board

04 November 2024

Our SpaceFibre test and development product range has recently been expanded with the introduction of the STAR-Ultra PCIe Single-Lane Router. An 8-lane Gen 3 PCI Express board with eight single-lane SpaceFibre ports, each operating at up to 6.25 Gbit/s, and a high-speed interface to the host PC, the STAR-Ultra PCIe Single-Lane Router is capable of packet transfer between the host PC and the routing switch at data rates well in excess of 10 Gbit/s in both directions simultaneously. The switch itself has an effective user data rate (bisection bandwidth) of approximately 50 Gbit/s.

STAR-Ultra PCIe Single-Lane Router

At the heart of the STAR-Ultra PCIe Single-Lane Router is a SpaceFibre routing switch with twelve ports:

  • Port 0 is the configuration port which can be accessed from any port of the SpaceFibre routing switch, permitting remote configuration, control and monitoring of the switch.
  • Ports 1 to 8 are the eight SpaceFibre ports, each with eight virtual channels.
  • Ports 9 and 10 are internal ports, each with eight virtual channels which are connected to a multi-channel host interface. This multiplexes the many individual streams of data over a PCIe Gen3 x8 lane interface, providing the high-speed interface to the host PC.
  • Port 11 is an internal port, used as a control channel interface, allowing the host PC to configure, control and monitor the SpaceFibre routing switch over the PCIe bus.

A new version of our other, existing STAR-Ultra product, the STAR-Ultra PCIe Interface, is also being released. The STAR-Ultra PCIe Interface is a SpaceFibre Interface device which provides two ports, with up to 4 lanes on each port. Among the many improvements, this new release features links with a configurable number of lanes, making it easy to communicate with SpaceFibre devices with single-lane or multi-lane interfaces, ensuring compatibility with various lane configurations.

A comparison of some of the key features present in the two products is shown in the table below.

ProductSTAR-Ultra PCIe InterfaceSTAR-Ultra PCIe Single-Lane Router
Interface or RouterInterfaceRouting Switch
Number of Ports28
Lanes per PortUp to 41
Virtual Channels per Port88
Lane Data Signalling Rate1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.875, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.125, 3.75, 5, 6, 6.25, 7.5 Gbit/s1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.875, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.125, 3.75, 5, 6, 6.25 Gbit/s
Link AnalysisOn port 1No
Software Channels1618

To coincide with these releases, a new version of the STAR-Ultra software applications has been released, supporting both the STAR-Ultra PCIe Interface and the STAR-Ultra PCIe Single-Lane Router products. The Controller application has been updated to support the control of functionality in routing switches and has also been expanded to allow multiple tabs to be opened concurrently. This makes it possible to configure a device’s Routing Table while also viewing its Virtual Network configuration, for example.

STAR-Ultra Controller Software

In addition, a new major version of the STAR-System software suite has been released, version 6.00, to support the STAR-Ultra PCIe Single-Lane Router. STAR-System provides the drivers, APIs and graphical applications for accessing all our SpaceFibre and SpaceWire products and this latest release includes several new features. As part of the support for the STAR-Ultra PCIe Single-Lane Router, a new SpaceFibre Configuration API has been added to provide functions to configure different SpaceFibre device types in a consistent manner. Among the improvements potentially of interest to existing STAR-System users is support for the latest Linux kernel at time of release, version 6.11.2. Registered users can download this latest release from the STAR-System downloads page.

Support for Python and ARM Targets in STAR-System v5.00

18 February 2022

The STAR-System software suite has provided the drivers, APIs and applications to our SpaceFibre and SpaceWire products for over 10 years and continues to be updated with new features and improvements in each release. The latest major release, version 5.00, includes two features which we regularly receive requests for: an API for the Python programming language and a new Linux installer supporting ARM targets such as the Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone.

Other new features include a new API to support creation and processing of CCSDS Space Packet Protocol and Transfer Frame packets, and new graphical applications providing RMAP Initiator and Triggering functionality. The Source and Sink graphical applications have been updated to include graphs to visually represent statistics when transmitting and receiving, while there are numerous other improvements and bug fixes.

Version 5.00 has been successfully tested on Windows 11 and Linux kernel compatibility has been tested up to kernel v5.16.9. As with all STAR-System releases, version 5.00 is backwards compatible with previous releases and so any software developed for an earlier version will work with this latest release without requiring any modifications.

STAR-System version 5.00 is now available for download for registered users through the Support area of our website. If you don’t already have access to these downloads, please register your product on our Product Registration page.

STAR-System version 5.00 with Python support and new graphical applications

STAR-Dundee and Alpha Data Demonstrate SpaceFibre and SpaceWire on Alpha Data’s ADA-SDEV-KIT XQRKU060

16 August 2019

STAR-Dundee and Alpha Data have recently demonstrated compatibility between our FMC SpaceWire/SpaceFibre board and the Alpha Data ADA-SDEV-KIT. The Alpha Data ADA-SDEV-KIT is the principal prototyping platform for designs targeting the Xilinx Space Grade Ultrascale™ part, the XQRKU060. This new FPGA allows deployment of Space Based Reconfigurable solutions more than five times the performance of previous generations, and has significantly higher performance transceivers that can support the highest SpaceFibre data rate of 6.25 Gbit/s per lane. The STAR-Dundee FMC SpaceWire/SpaceFibre board provides the perfect development platform for customers wishing to test and develop SpaceWire and SpaceFibre solutions with our SpaceWire and SpaceFibre VHDL IP cores.

FMC SpaceWire/SpaceFibre Board

“STAR-Dundee’s SpaceWire and SpaceFibre IP and FMC card will enable Alpha Data ADA-SDEV-KIT customers to develop and implement robust, fault tolerant, space capable communications systems.”

Andrew McCormick, Technical Director, Alpha Data

Established in 1993, Alpha Data is a world leader in Xilinx FPGA based plug-in acceleration boards for Data Center, high-performance computing, and rugged embedded computing applications. Alpha Data’s high-reliability hardware platforms are ideal for development as well as full-scale production deployment – shaping the future in video processing, machine learning, and network acceleration. Further product details and ordering options for Alpha Data’s ADA-SDEV-KIT are available on Alpha Data’s website: www.alpha-data.com.

More information about the FMC SpaceWire/SpaceFibre board and the SpaceWire and SpaceFibre IP cores is available on the Products section of our website.

STAR Fire Mk3 Now Available!

14 June 2019

STAR Fire Mk3

Closely following on from the publication of the SpaceFibre standard, our latest SpaceFibre and SpaceWire enabled test and development unit is now available!

The STAR Fire Mk3 can transmit and receive both SpaceWire and SpaceFibre traffic; it can interconnect SpaceWire equipment to a SpaceFibre network; and it can operate as a SpaceFibre link analyser, capable of unobtrusively capturing and displaying SpaceFibre traffic. Leveraging these capabilities, it is possible to emulate, stimulate, debug and validate SpaceFibre enabled equipment.

Previous versions of the STAR Fire were created whilst we developed the SpaceFibre standard, helping to prove the technology and providing early adopters with access to test equipment. Building on the previous STAR Fire models and our expertise in SpaceFibre, both the STAR Fire Mk3 hardware and software have been significantly improved, resulting in a comprehensive test and development platform.

More information is available on the STAR Fire Mk3 product page.

SpaceFibre Standard Published!

29 May 2019

SpaceFibre Standard Published

For the past decade, STAR-Dundee has been leading the development of the next generation of SpaceWire technology: SpaceFibre. SpaceFibre is a high-performance, high-reliability, high-availability network technology for use onboard spacecraft.

Our efforts in developing SpaceFibre were recently rewarded with the publication of the SpaceFibre standard, “ECSS-E-ST-50-11C – SpaceFibre – Very high-speed serial link”, by the European Space Agency’s standardisation body, the European Cooperation for Space Standardization.

SpaceFibre provides data signalling rates of 6.25 Gbit/s in current flight technology, over electrical or fibre optic cables, while its unique multi-laning features allow up to 16 lanes to be combined into a single link, giving a theoretical link rate of 100 Gbit/s. SpaceFibre offers much more than high data rates, however. The technology is capable of detecting, isolating and recovering from faults in the link where they occur, which prevents faults from propagating and causing further errors. SpaceFibre provides galvanic isolation, transparent recovery from transient errors, error containment in virtual channels and frames, and “Babbling Node” protection. Very versatile quality of service mechanisms allow scheduled, deterministic communication without wasting any network bandwidth.

These powerful capabilities mean that SpaceFibre is not only suitable for very high data rate payloads such as synthetic aperture radar and multi-spectral imaging instruments; it can also be used for network and equipment management and for deterministic command and control type applications. SpaceFibre allows each of these traffic types with very different requirements to share a single network, with each traffic stream operating independently within its own virtual network.

SpaceFibre has been and is being designed into its first ASICs, on-board equipment and space missions. The powerful Ramon Chips RC64 many-core DSP features STAR-Dundee IP to provide 12 SpaceFibre ports each offering up to 6.25 Gbit/s data signalling rate. SpaceFibre is being used in Europe, USA, Russia and Japan and has been incorporated in the latest revision of the ANSI/VITA 78 SpaceVPX backplane standard.

Our CTO, Steve Parkes, wrote the SpaceFibre standard with inputs from international spacecraft engineers, and STAR-Dundee has designed, implemented and tested:

In addition, STAR-Dundee has demonstrated the first complete SpaceFibre network representative of spaceflight applications and incorporating radiation tolerant technology. STAR-Dundee owns a patent on the SpaceFibre multi-lane technology, which is being freely licensed for space related applications.

We currently offer several SpaceFibre IP cores and SpaceFibre Test and Development products, with more products to be added to this range in the near future.

2019 Conferences and Trade Shows Begin with IEEE Aerospace

26 February 2019

IEEE Aerospace Conference

STAR-Dundee’s attendance at conferences and trade shows in 2019 began with the IEEE Aerospace Conference in Big Sky Montana, which started on March 2nd. Our CTO presented a paper titled “SpaceFibre Interfaces and Architectures” on the 3rd,  while at our booth we demonstrated our latest SpaceWire and SpaceFibre developments, including a new version of our SpaceFibre Router with 12 ports, and the SpaceFibre Camera, featuring a radiation-tolerant (RTG4) FPGA. Images were shown being transferred from the SpaceFibre Camera, over a SpaceFibre network, through the SpaceFibre Router, and received on a PC using the STAR Fire Mk3. The USB 3.0 interface on this unit allows the images to be received at data rates in excess of 1 Gbit/s. At the same time, a slower data feed was routed from SpaceWire to SpaceFibre and then back to SpaceWire. It is straightforward to add SpaceWire traffic into a SpaceFibre network using our SpaceFibre Router, as it offers both SpaceFibre and SpaceWire ports.

Other events where you can meet our team this year and see these great demos include:

Hi-FLY: Improving Space On-board Data Handling and Transfer Capabilities

21 August 2018

Hi-FLY Logo

STAR-Dundee is a partner in Hi-FLY, a research project funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme. The aim of Hi-FLY is to develop and validate innovative technologies to remarkably improve space on-board data handling and transfer capabilities, primarily for Earth Observation and partly also for Telecom future missions.  To achieve this goal, Hi-FLY will make substantial advances in all major elements of the data chain including inter-satellite and on-board networks, payload processing, data compression, protection, storage and transmission.

STAR-Dundee’s role includes providing a standard interface, SpaceFibre, to the instruments and elements of the payload data chain. This is scalable to sustain data-rates from 1 Gbit/s to 40 Gbit/s per link and supports very high-speed data transfer and equipment control, configuration and monitoring through the same interface, enhancing overall system reliability. The end to end data chain will support an input data-rate from instruments of 50 Gbit/s and an output data-rate to the downlink of 10 Gbit/s.

The Hi-FLY project partners are:

  • Airbus Defence and Space GMBH
  • Airbus Defence and Space SAS
  • Tesat-Spacecom GmbH & Co.KG
  • STAR-Dundee Limited
  • University of Dundee
  • Integrated Systems Development S.A.
  • Deutsches Zentrum Luft – und Raumfahrt e.V.
  • Kongsberg Spacetec AS
  • Erzia Technologies SL
  • Universitat Autonoma De Barcelona
  • Ethniko Kai Kapodistriako Panepistimio Athinon
  • Modus Research and Innovation Limited

Further information on the Hi-FLY project can be found on the Hi-FLY project website, while a video providing an overview of the project is available on the Hi-FLY YouTube channel.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 776151

STAR-Dundee Demonstrating New Products at Small Sat 2018

03 August 2018

Small Sat 2018

From the 6th to the 9th of August, STAR-Dundee will be exhibiting at the 32nd Annual Small Satellite Conference in Logan, Utah, USA. If you’re attending the event, come and visit us at Booth 31 in the main hall (Taggart Student Center).

We’ll be demonstrating some of our forthcoming products, including the Link Analyser Mk3, STAR Fire Mk3 and SpaceWire Gigabit Ethernet (GbE Brick). Also on our stand will be our SpaceFibre Camera, which will be transferring video across SpaceFibre at Gbit/s rates to the STAR Fire Mk3, where it will be displayed on the connected PC using our STAR-System software suite.

STAR-Dundee at Space Computing & Connected Enterprise Resiliency Conference

11 May 2018

STAR-Dundee attended the Space Computing & Connected Enterprise Resiliency Conference for the first time, in Bedford, Massachusetts from June 4th – June 8th 2018.

STAR-Dundee took part in Session 5 (1:00PM – 3:30PM, DoubleTree): ‘Interconnects for Space – including SpaceVPX, SpaceWire, SpaceFibre, sRIO, TTE, standards/markets, and emerging standards.’

Dave Gibson, a Software Engineer at STAR-Dundee, gave a presentation covering the main features and benefits of SpaceFibre. Find out more about SpaceFibre here: https://www.star-dundee.com/knowledge-base/what-is-spacefibre.

STAR-Dundee at SpaceWire Conference 2018

11 May 2018

STAR-Dundee at SpaceWire Conference 2018

May is a busy month for all at STAR-Dundee. We will be at 3 events: SpaceWire Conference, SEE/MAPLD and DASIA.

From 14-18 May we will be at the SpaceWire Conference in Los Angeles.

On Monday the 14th Steve Parkes, our CTO and author of the SpaceFibre standard with inputs from several spacecraft engineers, will be presenting a SpaceFibre tutorial, explaining how the protocol operates and how it can be used to solve many communications problems on-board spacecraft. This tutorial is free for everyone registered for the SpaceWire Conference. More information can be found on the SpaceWire Conference website programme page.

STAR-Dundee’s CEO, Stuart Mills, will Chair the ‘Missions & Applications’ session from 11:30-12:35 on Tuesday the 15th and STAR-Barcelona Director and R&D Engineer Albert Ferrer Florit will chair the ‘Networks & Protocols’ session from 13:30-15:00 on Wednesday the 16th.

Employees from STAR-Dundee have contributed to a number of papers which will be presented at the conference. The titles, authors and times are below:

Tuesday the 15th:

  • (51) Stuart Mills, Chris McClements, David Paterson, Pete Scott, Steve Parkes; TESTING OVER ETHERNET WITH THE SPACEWIRE GBE BRICK (10:30-11:00)
  • (56) Albert Ferrer-Florit, Alberto Gonzalez Villafranca, Steve Parkes, Chris McClements;SPACEFIBRE INTERFACE AND ROUTING SWITCH IP CORES (15:25 – 16:15)

Thursday 17th:

  • (54) Steve Parkes, Ashish Srivastava, Chris McClements, Pete Scott, David Dillon, Albert Ferrer Florit, Alberto Gonzalez Villafranca; SPACEFIBRE CAMERA (9:00-10:15)
  • (55) Steve Parkes, Pete Scott, David Dillon, Martin Dunstan, Chris McClements, Albert Ferrer Florit, Alberto Gonzalez Villafranca; SPACEVPX-RTG4 BOARD WITH SPACEWIRE OR SPACEFIBRE BACKPLANE (9:00-10:15)
  • (52) Stephen Mudie, David Gibson, Chris McClements, Stuart Mills, Steve Parkes; TESTING SPACEFIBRE EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS (15:15-16:30)
  • (53) Stephen Mudie, David Gibson, Chris McClements, Stuart Mills, Steve Parkes; SPACEWIRE LINK ANALYSER MK3 AND SPACEWIRE RECORDER (15:15-16:30)

Visit the SpaceWire Conference website for the full programme.

STAR-Dundee will also be exhibiting at the conference. Visit our stand to be one of the first to see demos showcasing three new products: the Link Analyser Mk3, STAR Fire Mk3 and SpaceWire Gigabit Ethernet (GbE Brick) which will soon be relased for sale.

Registration for the SpaceWire conference is open until the 14th of May – register here: http://2018.spacewire-conference.org/registration/

Featured Image: Electronics Engineer Pete Scott ready to demo at the SpaceWire Conference 2018.

STAR-Barcelona

05 December 2017

STAR-Barcelona

Did you know we have an office in Barcelona? 

In 2012, Albert and Alberto, two of our employees, wanted to return to Barcelona having worked in Dundee for some time (Albert holds a PhD from the University of Dundee). STAR-Dundee is a very employee-focused company and was happy for Albert and Alberto to return to Barcelona and continue their work for STAR-Dundee from a different country. We now have three employees in Barcelona, and we intend to increase this number soon! 

This year STAR-Dundee became an employee owned company and, alongside managerial changes, on the 1st of November 2017, Space Technology and Applied Research Barcelona (STAR-Barcelona) was born. STAR-Barcelona is now a subsidiary company of STAR-Dundee.

STAR-Barcelona are soon set to expand, keep an eye out for future opportunities within the team!

The featured image shows our founder and previous CEO (now CTO) Steve Parkes in the process of signing the STAR-Barcelona subsidiary agreement.

Microsemi RTG4 STAR-Dundee Demo Video

21 November 2017

The filming of our Video

On the 18th of May 2017 STAR-Dundee took part in Microsemi Space Forum’s North American Online Event.  As a partner of the Space Forum, STAR-Dundee created a video demonstrating SpaceWire and SpaceFibre for the Microsemi RTG4.

Watch the video here:

Microsemi Space Forum partner videos including STAR-Dundee’s were aired between 9:30-10:00, 11:15-12:15, and 14:00-14:30 (PST) on the 18th of May.

For more information and the agenda from the event please see Microsemi’s website: https://www.microsemi.com/spaceforum/space-forum#agenda 

STAR-Dundee also exhibited at Microsemi Space Forum, Europe in Noordwijk, Netherlands, on the 20th of June and Microsemi Space Forum, India at The Leela Palace, Bangalore on the 25th of July and Courtyard Marriott Ahmedabad, India on the 27th of July.

The featured image shows Dylan Drummond from Son of The Sea filming STAR-Dundee Electronics Engineer Pete.