Space Activities in Armenia: past, present and future

Abstract

A review about Space related activities in Armenia is given, particularly in the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO, Armenia), including the first Space Astronomy projects by Grigor Gurzadian in 1960s-1970s (Orion and Orion-2 UV observatories), research projects with USA (NASA) and European (ESA) Space observatories (IRAS, ROSAT, Hubble, Spitzer, WISE, etc.) by BAO scientists, Armenian participation in International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA), International Planetary Data Alliance (IPDA), and UN Committee on the Peaceful Users of the Outer Space (COPUOS), “Roscosmos” station in Byurakan established in 2014 for monitoring of Space debris, Armenian participation in NASA Space Apps Hackathons, Armenian participation in the European H2020 project, including the Space field, organization of Space related meetings and schools in Byurakan, etc. Armenia with its astronomical and other related background has great potential in establishing collaborations and promoting Space Sciences and Space Technologies.