SELECTOR has contributed to the EC policy : “Reaching non-dependence in certain technologies will open new markets to our industries and will increase the overall competitiveness of the European Space sector”. It focused on the development of innovative passive components to increase the number of freely accessible space qualified passive components. SELECTOR has enabled to develop Surface Mount Technology (SMT) compatible electromechanical switches for space sector high miniaturization. These devises called “Miniature Electro Mechanical Relay” (MEMR), already existed for microwave industrial ground application like Automatic Test Equipment. Selector's objective was to optimize these smt switches in order to adapt them to space conditions improve their performance, minimize the costs and improve integration. Indeed, the new generations of satellites have a new architecture and the components must adapt to this new architecture. Switches must be smaller, lighter, withstand harsh environments and have improved RF performances. SELECTOR has enabled to deliver MEMR as part of ESA portfolio European Preferred Part List (EPPL) so that this high integration, high performance passive component be available with no restriction for the whole European industry. In parallel, the satellite manufacturer has developped a redundancy ring demonstrator that integrates these switches.. This demonstrator is addressed to Very High Throughput Satellites (VHTS) emerging applications where the new paradigm is the introduction of digital technologies dealing with very high number of RF chains. VHTS system answers to telecommunication operator calling for optimized capital expenditure, no matter which network, ground or space, to supply their products and services. New evolution toward high RF power and high frequency capability has been implemented to open-up new sector of application within Space satellites (Navigation, earth observation), but also non space sectors. SELECTOR value chain included a supplier of space passive component “Radiall”, a space integrator “Thales Alenia Space”, a leader into electromagnetic design the “Universitat polytecnica of Valencia” and a center of excellence for space reliability of high complexity miniature component the “CSEM”.
