StratEdge Power Amplifier Package Used on Mars Rovers

NASA Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity San Diego, CA – 16 November 2006 – StratEdge Corporation, leader in the design, production, and assembly of high-performance semiconductor packages for microwave, millimeter-wave, and high-speed digital devices, announced that one of its 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.

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 minimizes signal loss so the MMIC performs optimally. Single transition insertion loss is better than 0.1 dB at X-Band.

The rugged StratEdge package is fully hermetic. The package has a copper composite base with a thermal conductivity of 170 W/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 -60 degrees to +250 degrees Fahrenheit (-16 degrees to +121 degree Celsius).

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.

For more information, contact StratEdge at info@stratedge.com, sign up for the StratEdge newsletter, and/or visit our website at www.stratedge.com.

About the Mars Rovers

NASA's twin robot geologists, the NASA Mars Exploration Rovers, were launched toward Mars on June 10 and July 7, 2003 in search of answers about the history of water on Mars. They landed on Mars January 4 and January 25, 2004. The Mars Exploration Rover mission is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet. Get updates about all the NASA Rover Missions here.

About StratEdge

StratEdge designs and manufactures high-performance semiconductor packages and provides chip assembly and test services. We specialize in packages for high-frequency, very high power, extremely demanding gallium arsenide (GaAs) and gallium nitride (GaN) devices and have a complete line of post-fired and molded ceramic semiconductor packages that operate from DC to 63+ GHz. Our patented electrical transition designs give StratEdge packages exceptionally low electrical losses, even at 63+ GHz. Markets served include telecom, mixed signal, VSAT, broadband wireless, satellite, military, test and measurement, automotive, down-hole, and MEMS. StratEdge is an ISO 9001:2015 facility.

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