Armenia’s Abandoned Orbita Antenna

This article is dedicated to this giant antenna, known as Orbita, which is located in Armenia and was once part of the vast Soviet satellite communication network. For decades, it played a key role in receiving television signals from Moscow and distributing them across the region. Today, the antenna stands as a powerful reminder of an era when satellite technology first made it possible to connect distant parts of the Soviet Union through television and radio broadcasts.

The history of Orbita antennas

The Orbita system was a Soviet network of ground-based satellite communication stations created to distribute Central Television across the vast territory of the USSR. It was officially established in 1965 and became one of the most important technological projects of its time. The background of Orbita is closely linked to the launch of the Molniya-1 communication satellite on April 23, 1965. This satellite was placed into a highly elliptical orbit and made it possible to establish a stable long-distance communication link between Moscow and Vladivostok. At first, Orbita was created as a multi-channel satellite telephone line, not specifically for television broadcasting.

The Orbita ground station antenna in Armenia

Soon after, engineers realized that the same technology could be used to transmit television programs. Molniya-1 created a so-called “space bridge” that allowed TV signals to travel across enormous distances. This opened the door to building a distributed network of ground receiving stations capable of serving regions where traditional broadcasting was impossible.

As a result, Orbita stations began to appear across Siberia, the Far East, Central Asia, and the Far North. One of the receiving television stations was located in Frunze (today’s Bishkek). These stations allowed people in remote areas to watch programs produced in Moscow for the first time.

The system expanded rapidly. In 1967, the first 20 Orbita stations were put into operation. By 1970, there were already more than 50 stations, and by 1984, the network had grown to over 100 stations, including more than 10 transmit-and-receive stations.

Each ground station was equipped with a large 12-meter parabolic antenna, mounted on a rotating platform. The antenna tracked the satellite as it moved across the sky, ensuring a stable signal. Later upgrades led to the creation of Orbita-2, which operated on higher frequencies and improved reliability while keeping the same antenna design.

Thanks to the Orbita system, remote regions of the USSR gained access to one or two Central Television programs. To account for different time zones, broadcasts were recorded and retransmitted with time delays, allowing viewers to watch programs at appropriate local times.

Orbita became the foundation for later Soviet satellite systems, including Raduga, Ekran, Gorizont, and Express. It played a key role in unifying the country’s information space and remains an important example of large-scale Soviet engineering and communication technology.

Not much is left in the control room today. Alas, it could become a fantastic museum, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

The Orbita station in Armenia

Armenia was also part of this large network and had several Orbita antennas. At least three are known to me, and two of them have survived to this day. According to available information, the Orbita station became operational in November 1977, but it is not fully clear whether this date refers to this specific station or to a different antenna. Further verification is required. Russian-language technical sources, including publications such as Voprosy Radioelektroniki, identify the 12-meter dish as a standard satellite ground station (SSGS) of the Orbita type.

Its launch coincided with the construction of the new 311.7-meter Yerevan TV Tower. This made it possible for Armenia to receive the Second Program of Central Television from Moscow via the Molniya and Raduga satellite constellations.

In technical archives, the Orgov site is described not just as an observatory, but as a "Reference Center for Antenna Measurements" (Эталонный центр антенных измерений). This institution led by Paris Herouni, was responsible for high-precision antenna measurements.

Antenna Metrology (Calibration): Herouni's main contribution was "Antenna Metrology." To prove the 54m telescope worked, he needed a "standard" to measure it against. The 12m Orbita antenna acted as the control variable. Scientists would receive a signal from a Molniya-1 satellite on the 12m Orbita (which had known parameters) and simultaneously on the ROT-54 to calculate the latter's efficiency.
Dedicated data link: Because the ROT-54 produced large volumes of data by 1980s standards, standard telephone lines were not sufficient. The Orbita station provided a direct satellite link from Orgov to Moscow via the Raduga geostationary satellites, ensuring a stable, high-bandwidth channel for transmitting scientific data to central command.

Old scientific documents are scattered around the place

Is the Orbita System Still in Use Today?

With the modernization and digitization of television broadcasting, the original role of the Orbita system has largely come to an end. Orbita was designed for analog satellite transmission, and modern TV distribution now relies on digital satellites, fiber-optic networks, and internet-based technologies. As a result, Orbita is no longer used as a main system for nationwide television broadcasting.

That said, Orbita did not disappear overnight. During the transition to digital TV, parts of the network continued to operate in supporting or backup roles, especially in remote regions. Some ground stations were upgraded, repurposed, or integrated into newer communication systems, while others were gradually shut down and abandoned.

Today, many former Orbita stations stand as relics of a past technological era. Some remain operational in limited technical roles, but most have historical rather than practical value.