MMIC technology aboard satellites

Fifteen years after their first demonstration, MMIC's are now rapidly conqu ering the world of space electronics. The driving force behind MMIC develop ment have been miniaturization, cost reduction and higher reliability. MMIC 's have first been introduced into GEO Telecommunication satellites with a new generation of compact equipment. After these first convincing demonstra tions, MMIC's have now become an absolute necessity for turning into realit y future satellites with active antennas, observation radars or future syst ems such as LEO constellations. The paper presents several major achievemen ts for space programs, discusses about procedures to fly these advanced mic roelectronics and, finally, reviews some reliability issues which are a con cern today for spaceborne MMIC-based equipment.