Russian Luch relay satellites have received ultralight antennas with mesh made of microwire only 0.015 millimeters thick. This design has radically reduced the mass of key elements of the onboard antenna while maintaining high efficiency of radio signal transmission. This was reported by the state corporation Roscosmos.
The development and production of these reflectors is carried out by ISS Reshetnev. This refers to the mesh reflective surfaces of antennas that form and concentrate the radio beam for stable communication between satellites and ground stations.
The key feature of the design is the use of metal threads about 15 microns thick, which is several times thinner than a human hair, whose average diameter is approximately 0.07 millimeters. Additionally, the wire surface is coated with gold, which improves radio engineering characteristics and reduces signal loss.
The engineering solution using ultra-thin mesh has significantly lightened the design of relay satellites. In space technology, mass reduction directly affects launch costs and the overall energy efficiency of the spacecraft, so such technologies are considered critically important for modern orbital communication systems.
The Luch system is used as orbital infrastructure for data relay, providing continuous communication between spacecraft and Earth even outside the direct line of sight of ground stations. Improving antenna characteristics enhances the stability of transmission channels and expands the operational capabilities of the system.