The challenges in realizing a medium power GaAs amplifier for Ku band satellite payload equipment

This paper describes space verification and qualification testing carried out on a custom designed Ku band medium power amplifiers (KuMPA) intended for use in an output driver stage in a telecommunications satellite payload. The testing covered accelerated life and overdrive stress testing, intended to investigate the design robustness of this MMIC. Accelerated testing showed a drop in gain of 0.2dB for 50 years equivalent mission time, and stress testing showed reliable operation at input powers approximately 10dB into compression. Performance degradation at higher input powers was found to be partially reversible.