1. Purpose and scope
The hardening approach is the single most expensive decision in a space part. Hardening by process uses a technology built to resist radiation, for example with hardened oxides, isolation that prevents latch-up and well structures that reduce charge collection. Hardening by design uses a commercial process and achieves tolerance with hardened cells, redundancy, error correction, layout rules and margins. Many parts combine the two.
The stage exists to make that choice on evidence. Each candidate technology is assessed for its measured dose response, latch-up behaviour, upset cross sections and, for bipolar and some analog circuits, low dose rate sensitivity. Gaps in the data are filled with device simulation or planned tests. The candidates are compared on performance, density, design effort, cost, the availability of hardened libraries and IP, and how long the process, kit and libraries will be supported, because a space part is often supplied long after the commercial life of its technology.
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