| COSPAR ID | 2022-057AK  |
|---|---|
| SATCAT no. | 52765 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | 16U CubeSat |
| Launch mass | 16.4 kilograms (36 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 25 May 2022 (2022-05-25) |
| Rocket | Falcon-9 |
Urdaneta-Armsat is a series of Spanish-Armenian nanosatellites developed by the Basque company Satlantis Microsats in collaboration with the Armenian national company Geocosmos, in the CubeSat (16U) format.
The first satellite in this series, Armsat-1, was launched into orbit by Armenia in May 2022, thus becoming the first Armenian satellite.
History
Background and Design
Armenia has been seeking to develop a space program since the 2020s, particularly aiming to achieve strategic autonomy in the satellite field. The country embarked on a dual program, enlisting the services of the Spanish company Satlantis Microsats in collaboration with its national company Geocosmos to develop a series of research satellites called Urdaneta-Armsat. Additionally, Armenia began developing a fully Armenian program to achieve strategic autonomy, including the launch of the Hayasat-1 satellite towards the end of 2023.
The Urdaneta-Armsat series consists of satellites commissioned by Armenia, equipped with the Satlantis iSIM-907 optical device. These satellites are intended for non-military observation purposes, such as agricultural organization and security. They weigh 16.4kg and are designed to operate in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 530km. The expected lifespan of these satellites is around 4 years.
Urdaneta-Armsat-1
The first satellite of the series, named Urdaneta-Armsat-1, was launched into orbit on 25 May 2022, from Cape Canaveral using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It was the first Armenian satellite in orbit and was also described as the first Basque satellite, as Satlantis is a Basque company.
The Armenian side expressed satisfaction with the launch and operation of Armsat-1, leading them to sign a longer contract with Satlantis.
Future Developments
At least a second satellite is planned. During the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, the satellite captured images of areas affected by conflict, although Armenian authorities stated that it was not used for military purposes. As a development, Armenia is constructing a control center within its borders to enhance its monitoring and development capabilities in relation to this satellite and future ones.
References
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- "L'Arménie utilisera le satellite ARMSAT-1 dans divers domaines, y compris la surveillance de la sécurité". armenpress.am (in French). Archived from the original on 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ Komunikazioa (2022-06-07). "SATLANTIS announces signing of contract with Armenia for Armsat1 satellite". Red de Parques de Euskadi. Archived from the original on 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "Deputy Minister: On September 14, Armenian satellite 'ArmSat-1' captured images from Armenia's eastern border". NEWS.am TECH - Innovations and science. Archived from the original on 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
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