NASA Awards LeWiz Communications Phase III Contract to Advance Spaceflight Avionics Networking

NASA has awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III contract to LeWiz Communications, Inc. to develop an advanced avionics networking system aimed at improving communications and interoperability among spacecraft electronic systems. According to the announcement, the contract builds upon previous collaboration between LeWiz, multiple NASA centers, and the U.S. Navy regarding Ethernet networking technologies for aerospace and defense applications.

Conventional Ethernet technology does not completely meet the deterministic timing, reliability, and mission-critical performance demands of aerospace systems. To address these gaps, industry standards organizations have advanced Time-Triggered Ethernet (TTE)—which provides predictable communications and has been used on NASA's Orion spacecraft for the Artemis program—and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), which supports time-critical communications and advanced network management.

Developing a TTE-to-TSN Bridge System

Under the newly awarded Phase III contract, LeWiz is tasked with developing a TTE-to-TSN Bridge System to facilitate communication between devices utilizing these two distinct networking standards.

• Hardware and Firmware Integration: The project involves creating a complete hardware system featuring a SOSA Space Appendix compliant chassis, backplane, and networking boards, along with associated firmware and software.
• Environmental Resilience: Designs must satisfy rigorous spaceflight environmental and reliability specifications.
• Future Exploration Support: The technology aims to assist spacecraft, space stations, and architectures designated for future Lunar and Mars exploration.

Advancing Previous SBIR Research

This Phase III award transitions earlier concepts from LeWiz's Phase I and Phase II projects into operationally relevant aerospace solutions. Chinh Le, CEO of LeWiz Communications, acknowledged the award as a milestone reflecting years of research in avionics networking.

Practical Implications and Verification

• Interoperability: The bridge aims to help NASA integrate newer capabilities while maintaining existing investments in established spacecraft systems.
• Verification: Interested parties can review official agency procurement records or verify company announcements through NASA's SBIR program directory and official press release archives.
• Event Participation: LeWiz indicated plans to discuss the technology further at the Radiation Hardened Electronic Technology conference scheduled for November 3 through 5 in San Diego.