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.

宜普電源轉換公司(EPC)擴展了其抗輻射氮化鎵產品系列，新推的100 V元件用於要求嚴格的機載和其他高可靠性環境的電源轉換解決方案，與目前市場上的任何100 V耐輻射電晶體相比，它具有最低的導通電阻。

EPC公司宣佈推出100 V、3.9 mΩ、345 A_Pulsed的抗輻射GaN FET EPC7018 r，尺寸爲13.9 mm²，其總劑量等級大於1 Mrad，綫性能量轉移（LET）的單一事件效應（SEE）抗擾度爲85 MeV/(mg/cm²)。與EPC7014、EPC7007和EPC7019耐輻射產品系列相同，都是採用晶片級封裝。封裝元件由EPC Space.提供。

宜普電源轉換公司(EPC)擴展了其抗輻射氮化鎵產品系列，新推的200 V產品用於要求嚴格的機載和其他高可靠性環境下的電源轉換解決方案，它具備超低導通電阻和極小型化等優勢。

EPC公司宣佈推出200 V、25 mΩ、80 A_Pulsed的抗輻射GaN FET EPC7007。尺寸小至5.76 mm²，其總劑量等級大於1 Mrad，綫性能量轉移（LET）的單一事件效應（SEE）抗擾度為85 MeV/(mg/cm²)。與商用eGaN FET和IC系列相同，採用芯片級封裝。 封裝元件將由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.

氮化鎵功率電晶體是面向嚴苛航太任務的功率和射頻應用的理想元件。 通過全新基於eGaN^®元件的解決方案，EPC Space公司提供專門為商業衛星關鍵應用而設計的氮化鎵元件，可確保元件的耐輻射性能和對單粒子效應的免疫能力。 這些元件具有極高的電子遷移率、低溫度系數和非常低的導通阻抗。

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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美國加州MILPITAS - 2016年5月 25日美通社專訊 --佔領電源管理和精確模擬解決方案的市場領導地位的Intersil Corporation (納斯達克指數NASDAQ代號: ISIL) 宣佈計劃進一步擴大其業界領先、面向衛星應用的耐輻射產品系列，在衛星及其他惡劣環境採用具備高可靠性的氮化鎵（GaN）電源轉換積體電路。

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.