Product category:
IC and Hybrid Processing Equipment
News Release from: StratEdge | Subject: SE20 power amplifier packages
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 17 November 2006
Power amplifier package survives Martian
duties
One of StratEdge's SE20 power amplifier packages is playing a key role in transmitting signals with information gathered from Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity back to earth.
One of StratEdge's SE20 power amplifier packages is playing a key role in transmitting signals with information gathered from Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity back to earth The power amplifier package is used to protect the gallium arsenide monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) and ensure signal integrity
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 12 Jan 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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All signals that are transmitted from the rovers go through a StratEdge package.
The rovers communicate at X-Band frequency.
It's critical that the package doesn't interfere with the signals produced by the MMIC.
The package has continuous gold traces that run through the package wall.
The design of these highly conductive traces minimises signal loss so the MMIC performs optimally.
Single transition insertion loss is better than 0.1dB at X-Band.
The rugged StratEdge package is fully hermetic.
The package has a copper composite base with a thermal conductivity of 170W/m-K.
The high thermal conductivity of the base reduces the junction temperature and enhances reliability of the MMIC.
The package can withstand temperatures from -16 to +121C.
The StratEdge package was incorporated into Motorola's electronic communications assembly.
General Dynamics acquired Motorola Integrated Information Systems Group in 2001.
Motorola was looking for packages with exceptional electrical performance and good hermeticity, and had previously used StratEdge packages for high reliability space applications.
The rovers were launched in June and July of 2003 with a lifetime anticipated at three months once they landed on Mars.
The rovers have been in service for several times their designed life.
NASA's twin robot geologists, the Mars Exploration Rovers, were launched toward Mars on 10th June and 7th July 2003 in search of answers about the history of water on Mars.
They landed on Mars on 4th and 25th January 2004.
The Mars Exploration Rover mission is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Programme, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet.
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