RF
MEMS RELIABILITY FOR SPACE APPLICATIONS
S. Di NARDO, E. Di
PAOLA, G. MANNOCCHI, U. DIMARCANTONIO, P. FARINELL, M. FEUDALE,
R. MARCELLI, B. MARGESIN, P. MEZZANOTTE, F. VITULLI, L.
VIETZORRECK
Summary In
this paper at first the reliability requirements to use RF-MEMS
in space are detailed with reference to existing military (MIL)
and ESA (ECSS) specifications. In order to asses the ability of
RF-MEMS to meet those requirements, tests have been performed on
packaged air-bridge type SPDTs switches. These devices have been
developed by Alcatel Alenia Space Italia in the frame of ESA
contract No. l4628/NL/CK in collaboration with the Perugia and
Munich Universities, the Italian National Research Council (CNR)
and ITC-IRST. The performed tests included: vibrations (sine and
random), shock (with varying accelerations), thermal cycles and
leak tests.
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