Using Single Event Effects to Generate Truly Random Numbers for Encryption Keys

This flight test will demonstrate a novel technology that uses space radiation to create truly random encryption keys for secure wireless communication. The technology exploits the vulnerability of modern Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to ionizing radiation. When radiation strikes an FPGA it causes unwanted logic transitions known as Single Event Effects (SEEs). Though SEEs can cause computers to crash and great lengths are taken in space systems to mitigate them, this technology instead takes advantage of the external nature of these faults to create truly random seed numbers for use in encryption keys.

This technology uses space radiation to create truly random encryption keys for secure wireless communication. The technology exploits the vulnerability of modern Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to ionizing radiation which can be used to create truly random seed numbers for use in encryption keys. A technology that can generate truly random numbers in a lightweight, silicon-based form factor can greatly improve both the security and authentication of satellite communication links.

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