to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence on its surface.
Four astronauts are currently traveling toward lunar orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft, reaching greater distances than in the last fifty years. During the flight, they will test spacecraft systems and crew performance in the deep-space environment before returning to Earth. The mission will validate key capabilities and prepare for future crewed missions and lunar landings.
In the core systems of Artemis II, including the Orion capsule and the Space Launch System rocket, Renesas rad-hard circuitry is used in multiple subsystems. These devices, marketed under the Intersil brand, are integrated into the avionics and launch safety systems, helping to regulate power, maintain signal integrity, and support onboard computing. They are designed to operate reliably under the high levels of radiation and extreme temperatures typical of crewed space missions.
According to Chris Stephens, vice president of Renesas' HiRel division, crewed space missions allow no margin for error, and the company is proud to be one of the few semiconductor manufacturers selected to provide certified technology for this historic mission. Their devices ensure that the spacecraft's systems remain connected, protected, and under precise control during deep space exploration.
Renesas' Intersil brand boasts over six decades of experience in the space industry, dating back to the founding of Radiation Inc. in 1950. Since then, virtually every satellite, shuttle launch, and deep space exploration mission has incorporated Intersil products. Renesas leverages this expertise to develop highly reliable solutions for defense, critical applications, and space environments, including data communications, power supply and management, protection circuitry, and telemetry, tracking, and control (TT&C) systems.
