Multi-Watt GaN MMIC Power Amplifiers for 32 GHz Deep Space Communications and Radio Science

The RF communications of spacecraft-ground and spacecraft-spacecraft play an essential role in space exploration and space science. Radio science instruments commonly utilize existing RF communications channels to extract scientific information from radio wave propagation (Asmar, Sami, et al. “Convergence of Technologies Enabling Radio Crosslink Missions for Planetary Atmospheric Structures.” 2024 IEEE Aerospace Conference. IEEE, 2024). For future missions into deep space, communications at Ka-band carrier frequencies may significantly increase the data rate and measurement resolution to maximize the scientific return when compared with S and X-bands. The goal of this project is to enhance the efficiency and output power of power amplifiers (PAs) at the MMIC level to improve solid-state transmitters for use in deep space communications. Using advanced fabrication processes including WIN 120nm and Qorvo 150nm GaN on SiC, two Ka-band (32GHz) PAs are designed using different power combining techniques to achieve between 5–10 W of output power.