The US space agency NASA has awarded IceMOS with a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project to develop radiation-tolerant high-voltage MOSFET transistors as part of their “From Moon to Mars” project which will see a return to astronauts landing on the lunar surface for the first time since the 1970s and aiming for Mars by decade’s end.
Founded by Ballymena man Sam Anderson, IceMOS has a centre of excellence based in Belfast as well as an advanced research and innovation centre in Tempe, Arizona and a design centre in Tokyo, Japan.
NASA is currently finalising plans to launch a SLS (Space Launch System) an Orion space craft together on two flight tests around the moon to check performance, life support, and communication capabilities.
The first mission, Artemis I is planned to launch later this year with Artemis II manned flights scheduled for 2023 and a return to the lunar surface envisioned for 2024 with Artemis III.