MSU Expands Chip Testing Facility for Advanced Electronics

New K500 Chip Testing Facility at FRIB Lab Boosts U.S. Capacity for Radiation Effects Testing

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Michigan State University's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) has recently christened its new K500 Chip Testing Facility, or KSEE, expanding the U.S. capacity for radiation effects testing of advanced microelectronics used in critical applications like spaceflight, defense, wireless communications, and autonomous systems.

Why it matters

As electronics become more sophisticated and ubiquitous, ensuring they can withstand the effects of cosmic radiation is crucial, especially for mission-critical applications. The new KSEE facility at FRIB will help chip manufacturers and technology companies test the resilience of their products in a controlled environment, improving reliability and safety.

The details

The KSEE facility at FRIB uses the lab's particle accelerators to generate beams of high-energy ions that simulate the effects of cosmic radiation on electronic components. Researchers can precisely control the type and intensity of radiation exposure to assess how chips and other microelectronics perform under extreme conditions.

  • MSU's FRIB lab christened the new KSEE facility on March 2, 2026.

The players

Thomas Glasmacher

Laboratory Director of MSU's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB).

Abe Yeck

User manager at MSU's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.

Steven Lidia

SEC facility manager at MSU's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.

Tanner Lange

Operations accelerator engineer 2 at MSU's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.

Shane Ryan

Operator in charge at MSU's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The expansion of MSU's FRIB lab to include the new KSEE chip testing facility underscores the growing importance of ensuring advanced electronics can withstand the rigors of space, defense, and other mission-critical applications. This investment will help maintain U.S. leadership in developing resilient microelectronics for the future.