By Hayk Hovhannisyan
Armenia’s first satellite program, launched with great fanfare in May 2022, has been marred by unfulfilled promises and setbacks, raising questions about the project’s effectiveness and management.
Ambitious Promises vs. Reality
When the ARMSAT-1 satellite was launched into orbit on May 25, 2022, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made ambitious declarations about its potential. He stated that “in the near future, specifically in 2022, and by the end of 2023, Armenia would establish both a satellite control center and a receiving station.” These facilities were expected to enable the country to utilize satellite imagery for critical purposes, including border monitoring and disaster prevention.
However, these promises remain largely unmet. While the Ministry of High-Tech Industry claimed in June 2023 that the control center was “ready” and later reported the completion of the receiving station, neither facility has been officially inaugurated to date.
Financial Concerns and Limited Transparency
The government has disclosed little about the project’s total cost, though former officials have offered some insights. Avetik Kerobyan, the former chairman of the Military Industry Committee, stated in May 2022 that the project cost around $5 million. Additionally, government records reveal an injection of 3.32 billion drams (approximately $7 million) into Geocosmos CJSC (a subsidiary of the Ministry of High-Tech Industry) which partnered with the Spanish company Satlantis for the satellite’s development.
Limited Lifespan and Technical Challenges
Recent information reveals that the satellite may have a slightly shorter operational life than initially planned. Satlantis, the company that designed ARMSAT-1, announced on July 6, 2022, that the satellite launched on May 25 was designed to operate for at least four years, which means that it was supposed to function at least until April-May 2026. The ministry indicated that the satellite’s operation will end in early 2026, citing various technical problems it is facing in space.
ARMSAT-1 encounters constant challenges from cosmic radiation, periodic solar flares, and extreme temperature fluctuations, all of which can lead to system degradation and potential failure. Like other low-orbit satellites, ARMSAT-1 will eventually descend and burn up in Earth’s atmosphere after its operational life ends.
Questions About Functionality
High-Tech Industry Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan has insisted that the satellite is operational and taking photographs. However, the ministry has been reluctant to release high-quality original images from the satellite. Instead, it has shared only processed, low-quality images, raising doubts about the satellite’s actual capabilities.
Future Implications
The challenges facing Armenia’s first satellite program highlight critical issues in the country’s space ambitions and project management. While the initiative marked a significant step into the space sector, the gap between promises and delivery underscores the need for more realistic planning and greater transparency in future technological ventures.
As ARMSAT-1 nears the end of its operational life, the unfulfilled promises of ground infrastructure and the project’s limited transparency may serve as valuable lessons for Armenia’s future space initiatives.
On November 27, law enforcement agencies confirmed to #CivilnetCheck previous media reports about a criminal case being initiated regarding the Arsmath-1 satellite program, though they declined to provide further details.
Read the article in Armenian.
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