ESA component engineer Andrew Barnes explains the Agency’s work with gallium nitride (GaN), described as the most promising semiconductor since silicon. Working with academia and industry through the ‘GaN Reliability Enhancement and Technology Transfer Initiative’ (GREAT2), dedicated European supply chains have been set for space-capable GaN components, with Europe’s first GaN-based part flown on the Proba-V minisatellite in 2013. Now GREAT2 has flight heritage behind it, a range of further missions and applications are being worked on.

To learn more, read Andrew's interview