Scientists Develop Computer Chip To Power Rover On Planet Venus

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Scientists of NASA are developing a computer chip that can bear the extreme heat of Venus. The said chip will power a rover on the surface of the planet.

According to Popular Mechanics, Venus is one of the hottest planets in the solar family. The approximate temperature of the planet is 872 degrees Fahrenheit. The atmospheric pressure is also very high, it is 90 times that of the earth.

In a word, the atmospheric pressure is equal to 3000 feet underwater on earth. Previously, some initiatives were taken to send spacecraft to Venus. The spacecraft that could bear the temperature of the planet for a longer period is "Venera 13".

"Venera 13" was a Soviet spacecraft and it survived on the surface of Venus for 127 minutes. That means it transmitted data about the atmosphere of the planet for maximum 127 minutes. The extreme temperature of the said planet can burn up and destroy all kinds of electronic devices.

So far, scientists have designed a particular type of silicon chips that can only endure 480 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature exceeds then the semiconductors of the chips become useless. So this time the aim is to invent something new that can survive in the hot atmosphere of Venus.

The Space Reporter reports that NASA scientists are using silicon carbide (SIC) to make the semiconductors more heat endurable. The aim is to make them perfect for the environment of Venus. Researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center is using modified technology to create something from SIC semiconductors.

The researchers add tiny wires to the semiconductors and create a provision to connect them with different components of the chips. The researchers also performed an experiment to see the result of this development. The only aim is to make them more powerful to withstand the atmospheric pressure and temperature of Venus.

The scientists placed a newly developed chip in the Glenn Extreme Environments Rig (GEER) for three weeks. The GEER is a chamber that produced the same atmosphere like Venus to see the final aftermath. The interesting fact is the experiment was successful and the chip remained safe.

It is no doubt a great achievement, but NASA reveals that there is still a long way to go. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration wants to complete all kinds of preparation before sending a rover to Venus, and it will take some time. Now people on this earth have to keep their patience to see another successful journey of the spacecraft.