First space satellite Hayasat-1 produced by Armenia has completed its mission

YEREVAN, April 28. /ARКА/. Hayasat-1, the first Armenian-made space satellite, crossed the Karman line (the conventional boundary of space) for the last time and completed its mission, the Bazoomq space research laboratory said.

"Due to atmospheric drag, our satellite's orbit, like all satellites orbiting close to the Earth, has descended faster than expected since launch. Due to record solar activity in recent years, the atmosphere has significantly heated up, swelled, and drag has increased," the laboratory said in a statement on Facebook.

Nevertheless, as Bazoomq noted, Hayasat-1 has fulfilled its mission and provided valuable data and experience that will allow Armenia to move forward - to larger and more ambitious goals.

"We are deeply proud of Hayasat-1 and thank everyone who supported this historic mission. This is just the beginning," the lab said.

The first Armenian-made space satellite, Hayasat-1, created by the domestic Bazoomq lab and the Center for the Development of Education and Scientific Innovation (CSIE), was successfully launched into low Earth orbit on December 1, 2023.

The launch took place on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenerg Air Force Base (California, USA). The satellite, weighing 1 kg and measuring 10 cm X 10 cm X 10 cm, made one full orbit around the Earth every 1.5 hours. The signals sent by the satellite could be intercepted as it passed over Armenia.