Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
Radiation-Hard Ka-Band Power Amplifier for CubeSats
Project Description
The objective of the proposed work is to design and simulate a radiation hard fully-integrated gallium nitride (GaN) based Ka-band power amplifier (PA) for Cubesats. As detailed in NASA's Phase I solicitation subtopic "S1.02 Microwave Technologies for Remote Sensing", the needed power amplifier should exhibit greater than 32W of saturated output power (Psat) with a power-added efficiency (PAE) over 20%. The amplifier should maintain over 35dB gain within the frequency range of 35.5 GHz to 35.9GHz, and be implemented in a single-package solution with small form factor of less than 1cm3. To enable versatility and scalability to future scientific space applications, as well as radar and satellite communications applications that may operate in slightly modified frequency bands, the proposed amplifier will be designed to exceed the NASA requirements detailed above. The proposed amplifier will be designed in the TriQuint 0.15um gallium nitride on silicon carbide (GaN-on-SiC) fabrication process and have an extended frequency range from 34GHz to 38GHz, extended operating temperature range from -55˚C to 125˚C, sufficient linearity to transmit QPSK modulation schemes, and single MMIC maximum output power (Psat) of 16W. In order to achieve an output power beyond 32W, 3 MMICs shall be integrated within a single package (multi-chip module) with power splitting and combining integrated in the module's substrate. Furthermore, this work shall explore the feasibility of operating the GaN PA at temperature extremes, ranging from -240C to +250C, as requested by some of NASA's lunar and planetary missions.
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Anticipated Benefits
NASA employs active (radar) and passive (radiometer) microwave sensors for a wide range of remote sensing applications. These sensors include low frequency (less than 10 MHz) sounders to G-band (160 GHz) radars for measuring precipitation and clouds, for planetary landing, upper atmospheric monitoring, and global snow coverage. Alphacore's technology supports these future radar and radiometer missions and applications. Examples of target missions are: CubeSats, GACM, CAMLS, A-SMLS, SOFIA and GUSSTO. Other NASA programs that can greatly benefit from the proposed technology include solar system exploration missions (Europa Clipper, TSSM, VESPER, MARVEL, comet nucleus return, New Discovery and Living with a Star), Mars missions (MAVEN) and lunar orbiters and landers. The Jupiter-bound missions, such as the Europa Clipper and Io Volcano Observer missions, can greatly benefit from the PA due to its very high radiation hardness. The planetary and smaller body lander missions (Mars, Titan, Moon) can also greatly benefit from the PA since it will be developed to perform well in low temperatures, all the way down to -240˚C.
The proposed power amplifier is a good match to numerous military and commercial aerospace systems. Examples are wide-band radar systems, Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, electronic warfare (EW) systems and satellite communication systems. The Government defense space industry, including satellite programs of Air Force, NRO, MDA, and Army will benefit from a high-performance radiation-hard power amplifier. Among these programs are AEHF upgrades, GPS follow-ons, MDA's PTSS, Air Force's TacSat family, Operationally Responsive Space (ORS), and Army's SMDC nanosat family. The defense CubeSat programs, including NRO's Colony program and the Air Force SENSE program will also benefit. Commercial space platforms that will benefit from the proposed PA include both LEO and GEO telecommunication satellites, such as Intelsat, Direct TV, XM radio, Orbcomm and Iridium. Civil earth sensing applications such as weather/metrology applications e.g. (NOAA GOES and Landsat) can also benefit. More »
The proposed power amplifier is a good match to numerous military and commercial aerospace systems. Examples are wide-band radar systems, Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, electronic warfare (EW) systems and satellite communication systems. The Government defense space industry, including satellite programs of Air Force, NRO, MDA, and Army will benefit from a high-performance radiation-hard power amplifier. Among these programs are AEHF upgrades, GPS follow-ons, MDA's PTSS, Air Force's TacSat family, Operationally Responsive Space (ORS), and Army's SMDC nanosat family. The defense CubeSat programs, including NRO's Colony program and the Air Force SENSE program will also benefit. Commercial space platforms that will benefit from the proposed PA include both LEO and GEO telecommunication satellites, such as Intelsat, Direct TV, XM radio, Orbcomm and Iridium. Civil earth sensing applications such as weather/metrology applications e.g. (NOAA GOES and Landsat) can also benefit. More »
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Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alphacore, Inc. | Lead Organization | Industry | Tempe, Arizona |
| Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) | Supporting Organization | FFRDC/UARC | Pasadena, California |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
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Arizona
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California
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