Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #32417: Reconfigurable Computing in Orbit: The CHREC Processor’s Smart Space Upgrade

Space missions are long, unpredictable, and evolving. What if your onboard computer could change with the mission? That’s what the CHREC Space Processor offers—a reconfigurable computing platform that adapts to new tasks on the fly.

Developed by NASA Goddard and university partners from the NSF CHREC Center, this experiment flew on the ISS during multiple expeditions. The goal: demonstrate a space processor that doesn’t just compute fast, but can be rewired through software while already in orbit.

Why is this exciting? Traditional spacecraft hardware is static. If you need a new feature, you have to launch a new satellite. CHREC turns that on its head. It uses Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to let the hardware morph its behavior to suit new algorithms, new data types, or mission updates.

During its ISS tenure, CHREC tested real-time processing for sensor fusion, communications, and scientific data collection. This flexibility made it ideal for the changing needs of space exploration, especially in deep-space missions where delays make ground intervention hard.

Students should take note: CHREC blends computer engineering, space science, and AI. It’s like giving spacecraft a brain upgrade—mid-flight.

Join the Agnirva Space Internship Program

Get certified with over 100 hours of immersive, self-paced learning in cosmology, space technology, and climate science through the Agnirva Space Internship Program. Join, complete virtual projects, and earn a digital certificate to showcase your space fluency in interviews, resumes, and beyond.