A groundbreaking tiny chip, smaller than a strawberry seed, may soon revolutionize space communications.
Developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), this innovative signal amplifier is designed to enhance radar and telecommunications missions, filling a critical gap in current space technology.
“This chip, called a low noise amplifier, measures just 1.8 by 0.9 millimeters,” explained ESA microwave engineer David Cuadrado-Calle. “Its job is to boost extremely faint signals so they can be used effectively.”
The amplifier has potential uses in two major areas: radar-based missions and satellite telecommunications.
For radar missions, it will amplify faint radar echoes reflected from Earth’s surface back to satellites.
For telecommunications, it will strengthen weak signals sent from Earth to satellites and return them for broadband and broadcasting services.
The chip was designed by ESA’s Radio Frequency Equipment and Technology Section and manufactured at MACOM’s European Semiconductor Center in France.
It is built using gallium nitride on silicon, a material that makes it highly durable and resistant to strong input signals, an improvement over earlier designs.
This amplifier was specifically created to meet the needs of a proposed ESA mission called Wivern, an Earth Explorer candidate. Wivern—short for Wind Velocity Radar Nephoscope—aims to provide groundbreaking measurements of wind within clouds and precipitation.
It will also deliver detailed profiles of rain, snow, and ice water. These measurements could improve hazardous weather forecasts and offer new insights into severe storms.
To achieve its goals, Wivern will use W-band radar signals, which involve transmitting thousands of watts of power. The amplifier’s design allows it to withstand the high energy levels in these signals, making it an essential component of the mission. Additionally, the W-band has potential for future high-frequency, high-bandwidth telecommunications, opening doors for advanced satellite communications.
“Designing this amplifier was an exciting challenge for our team,” said Cuadrado-Calle.
“Normally, we would collaborate with European industry or universities for such projects, but in this case, we knew exactly what we needed and had the skills to make it ourselves. It was a great opportunity to showcase our chip design expertise.”
The amplifier’s performance was tested at VTT Millilab, ESA’s high-frequency laboratory, and its successful results were published in the IEEE Microwave and Wireless Technology Letters. This tiny chip could play a big role in advancing space technology, improving both communication and weather forecasting capabilities for future missions.
