The space industry is undergoing a transformative shift to “New Space,” driven by the increasing demand for ubiquitous connectivity and the emergence of innovative business models. One of the key elements of this transformation is the adoption of gallium nitride (GaN) technology in space applications. GaN holds immense potential due to its impressive radiation hardness, high system efficiency and lightweight characteristics.

In a discussion with EE Times Europe, Taha Ayari and Aymen Ghorbel, technology and market analysts at Yole Intelligence, part of Yole Group, explained how New Space—the low Earth orbit (LEO) mission segment, with a typical satellite lifespan of three to five years and lower reliability requirements—has become a focal point for GaN adoption. As a result, power GaN devices are being adopted for various satellite systems, including DC/DC converters, point-of-load systems, motor drives and ion thrusters.

EE Times Europe
October 2023
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Bringing GaN to the final frontier, EPC Space introduced two new radiation-hardened GaN transistors for high-current switching in space-based applications. As the number of commercial satellites continues to increase, designers require more options for space-ready power electronics with improved current handling.

All About Circuits
September, 2023
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Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) expands its family of radiation-hardened (rad-hard) gallium nitride (GaN) products for power conversion solutions with two new devices rated at 100 V and 200 V to address a multitude of critical spaceborne and other high-reliability .

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— April 2023 — EPC announces the introduction of two new radiation-hardened GaN FETs. The EPC7020 is a 200 V, 11 mΩ, 170 A_Pulsed, rad-hard GaN FET in a small 12 mm² footprint. The EPC7003 is a 100 V, 30 mΩ, 42 A_Pulsed, rad-hard GaN FET in a tiny 1.87 mm² footprint.  Both devices have a total dose radiation rating greater than 1,000K Rad(Si) and SEE immunity for LET of 83.7 MeV/mg/cm² with V_DS up to 100% of rated breakdown. These new devices, along with the rest of the Rad Hard family, EPC7019, EPC7014, EPC7004, EPC7018, EPC7007, are offered in a chip-scale package, the same as the commercial eGaN^® FET and IC family.  Packaged versions will be available from EPC Space.

宜普电源转换公司(EPC)扩展了其耐辐射氮化镓产品系列，新推的100 V器件用于要求严格的机载和其他高可靠性环境的电源转换解决方案，与目前市场上的任何100 V耐辐射晶体管相比，它具有最低的导通电阻。

EPC公司宣布推出100 V、3.9 mΩ、345 A_Pulsed的耐辐射GaN FETEPC7018，尺寸为13.9 mm²，其总剂量等级大于1 Mrad，线性能量转移（LET）的单一事件效应（SEE）抗扰度为85 MeV/(mg/cm²)。与EPC7014、EPC7007和EPC7019耐辐射产品系列相同，都是采用芯片级封装。封装器件由EPC Space.提供。

宜普电源转换公司(EPC)扩展了其耐辐射氮化镓产品系列，新推的200 V产品用于要求严格的机载和其他高可靠性环境下的电源转换解决方案，它具备超低的导通电阻和极小型化等优势。

EPC公司宣布推出200 V、25 mΩ、80 A_Pulsed的耐辐射GaN FET EPC7007。尺寸小至5.76 mm²，其总剂量等级大于1 Mrad，线性能量转移（LET）的单一事件效应（SEE）抗扰度为85 MeV/(mg/cm²)。与商用eGaN FET和IC系列相同，采用芯片级封装。 封装器件将由EPC Space提供。

As the outer reaches of the Earth’s atmosphere and space are opened to commercial development, motors will become increasingly important to systems places there for various functions. With the inevitability of manufacturing in space, motors – including their drivers – will take on even more functions. Of equal importance will be the motor drivers selected to drive those motors efficiently and reliably.

Components in Electronics
October, 2021
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Unlike silicon, whereby specific manufacturing processes and packaging are required to insulate semiconductors from the effects of radiation, GaN devices are largely resistant to the damage caused by space radiation due to their physical characteristics and structure. In an interview with Alex Lidow, CEO at EPC, Power Electronic News have discovered the features of GaN for space applications.

Power Electronics News
September, 2021
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Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) publishes Phase-12 Reliability Report adding to the extensive knowledge found in their first eleven reports. With this report, EPC demonstrates field experience of 226 billion eGaN ^® device hours and a robustness capability unmatched by silicon power devices.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— January 2021 — EPC announces its Phase-12 Reliability Report, documenting the strategy used to achieve a remarkable field reliability record. eGaN devices have been in volume production for more than eleven years and have demonstrated very high reliability in over 226 billion hours of operation, most of which are in vehicles, LTE base stations, and satellites, to name just a few applications with rigorous operating conditions.

氮化镓功率晶体管是面向严苛航太任务的功率和射频应用的理想器件。 通过全新基于eGaN^®器件的解决方案，EPC Space公司提供专门为商业卫星关键应用而设计的氮化镓器件，可确保器件的耐辐射性能和对单粒子效应的免疫能力。 这些器件具有极高的电子迁移率、低温度系数和非常低的导通阻抗。

EETimes
2020年7月
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Small satellites bring a more cost-effective approach to low-Earth-orbit (LEO) missions, helping to deliver low-cost internet access across the globe. For this application, GaN FETs partnered with a radiation tolerant pulse width modulation controller and GaN fet driver allow more efficient switching, higher frequency operation, reduced gate drive voltage and smaller solution sizes compared to the traditional silicon counterparts.

Electronics Weekly
July, 2019
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Two space travel related stories hit my desktop this week; one that rapidly generated major international headlines and one that slid very quietly onto my email screen.

The headline-hitter was the successful launch of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket with its payload of a Tesla sports car, complete with a dummy driver at the wheel. The second was about Gallium Nitride technology that would be suitable for space applications.

Electro Pages
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美国加州MILPITAS - 2016年5月 25日美通社专讯 --占领电源管理和精确模拟解决方案的市场领导地位的Intersil Corporation (纳斯达克指数NASDAQ代号: ISIL) 宣布计划进一步扩大其业界领先、面向卫星应用的耐辐射产品系列，在卫星及其它恶劣环境采用具备高可靠性的氮化镓（GaN）功率转换集成电路。

美通社
2016年5月25日
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Freebird Semiconductor and Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) have entered into an agreement whereby Freebird will develop products for use in high reliability space and harsh environment applications based upon eGaN^® power transistors and integrated circuits.

NORTH ANDOVER, MA. — April 2016 — Freebird Semiconductor Corporation, North Andover, Massachusetts announces the signing of an agreement with Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC), the leading provider of enhancement-mode gallium nitride power transistors to develop products for use in high reliability, space, and harsh environment applications based upon EPC’s eGaN^® technology.