Several governments have sent letters to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan asking him to remove the Armsat-1 and Hayasat-1 satellites from orbit.

According to experts, these devices are causing interference to the international space community. It is alleged that they complicate the operations of other countries' satellites or partially disrupt their programs.

In addition, experts also accused Yerevan of launching Armsat-1 and Hayasat-1 in an unprofessional and miscalculated manner.

Failed satellite launch linked to official's resignation

According to Zhoghogurd, the resignation of Armenia's Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry Avet Poghosyan, who is in charge of the space sector, may be related to the satellite's incorrect operation. The official worked in this position since June 2022 and was fired in early July 2024.

Poghosyan, in turn, dismissed any speculation regarding a connection between his disqualification and the failed satellite launch.

“As for the Hayasat-1 satellite, this is a private initiative, associated only with the state and the ministry to the extent that it has received a state license for space activities in accordance with the law. And if you mean the Armsat-1 satellite owned by Armenia, then it continues to operate normally, as planned from the beginning (…) The information does not correspond to reality,” he said.

Armenia's first satellite was launched into orbit 2 years ago

In May 2022, a rocket from the American company SpaceX launched Armenia's first satellite, Armsat-1, formerly known as Urdaneta, into orbit. It was launched from Cape Canaveral in the United States.

According to Pashinyan, the launch was made possible thanks to cooperation between Armenian company Geocosmos and Spanish company SATLANTIS. He said the satellite should be used for climate change monitoring, border control, disaster prevention and management.

In December 2023, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched Hayasat-1, developed by Armenian specialists.

The satellite, weighing about a kilogram, is marked with the words “Armenia in space for science”. It is supposed to orbit the Earth every 90 minutes. The device is equipped with sensors that measure the light intensity and temperature of different modules, as well as inertial sensors to measure changes in orientation.

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