Making Satellites Reliable: The Definition and Design Considerations of Space-Borne Solid-State Power Amplifiers

Satellite-based systems are used countless times a day. The navigation systems in our cars and smartphones employ a minimum of seven to ten satellites to give us directions; several satellites are required when we check weather conditions and in mapping our location when we search for a local restaurant; when calling abroad, when surfing the Internet on an airplane or ocean cruise, when the Super Bowl is broadcast live worldwide-in cases like these and many more, several satellites must be used at the same time. The failure of a transmitter onboard any one of these satellites can lead to a service interruption that is eventually translated into a negative economic impact for the satellite operators. In short, reliability in space is essential.