Urbex Tour to ROT54 – Explore Armenia’s Most Fascinating Abandoned Place

ROT54 and the Tour Experience

This urban explorer tour gives you a rare chance to visit one of the most popular and mysterious scientific sites of the Soviet legacy: the Herouni United Space Center in the village of Orgov. Hidden in the peaceful hills of Orgov lies ROT54, an enormous and now-abandoned scientific structure. Built between 1975 and 1985, this telescope features a massive 54-meter (177 ft) dish and was once among the most advanced radio-optical telescopes in the world. The project was the brainchild of Paris Herouni — a radio astronomer, physicist, and engineer — a determined Armenian scientist who spent years convincing Soviet authorities to approve its construction in Armenia.

Aerial photo of ROT54

The telescope operated from 1986 until it stopped in 1990. In the mid-1990s, plans were made to restore it. From 1995 to 2010, it was partially modernized with new control computers and equipment, and observations resumed with help from the Astronomical Society of Russia and the National Technical University of Athens. But in 2012, a control arm failed, disabling the secondary mirror and stopping operations again. The Armenian government couldn’t afford repairs, and the facility was mothballed. To restart it, the control systems need major upgrades, old analog sensors must be replaced with digital ones, and the data systems must be modernized. Experts estimate the cost at around $25 million.

In the control room of ROT54

Today, the dish stands silent. Inside the control room, everything remains as if time simply froze — a perfect set piece for any urban explorer.

Arev: The Forgotten Solar Power Station

Just a short walk from ROT54 lies Arev, an unfinished solar thermal power station designed by Paris Herouni during Armenia’s 1990s energy and economic crisis, when even the country’s most important strategic facility, the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, was shut down. It was protected by nine patents and boasted higher efficiency than similar international projects. Despite attracting interest from foreign investors, particularly from Great Britain, the project was never completed. When construction was close to completion, the investors attempted to acquire Herouni’s patents, which ultimately brought the project to a halt.

Now, the skeletal remains of Arev resemble something from a science fiction film — a raw monument to Soviet ambition, lost in time.

A visit to "Orbita" antenna

During this tour, we will also have a unique opportunity to see the massive “Orbita” antenna. The Orbita (Орбита) system was the world’s first national satellite television network, launched by the Soviet Union in 1967. Covering the vast territory of the USSR, laying cables to every remote region was impractical. Instead, a network of ground stations equipped with large, iconic parabolic antennas was built to receive signals from Molniya satellites.

In 1967, the first 20 Orbita stations were put into operation. The system expanded rapidly. 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.

Armenia was also part of this network and had several Orbita antennas. According to available information, the Orbita station in Armenia became operational in November 1977, although it is unclear whether this date refers to this specific station or another antenna; further verification is required. The launch of this station coincided with the construction of the 311.7-meter Yerevan TV Tower, which allowed Armenia to receive the Second Program of Central Television from Moscow via the Molniya and Raduga satellite constellations.

Tour Highlights

• Walk around the legendary ROT-54 antenna

• Explore the iconic control room with its original panels, perfectly preserved

• Visit abandoned buildings, including a unique anechoic chamber

• Get up close to — or even climb — the futuristic Arev solar power station

• Climb the observation tower for stunning panoramic views of the area

• See the giant "Orbita" antenna
  

  
  

More details…

• For groups larger than 4, please contact me via Telegram or WhatsApp. The number is listed at the bottom of the website.

• Transfer to and from your address in Yerevan

• Guide services

• Flexible schedule: time for photos, rest, and exploration

• Distance from Yerevan — about 40 km (approximately 50 minutes by car)

• Total tour duration — 4 to 5 hours

The tour is conducted in a well-maintained Mitsubishi Pajero 4

P.S. This tour can be combined with a visit to the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, where you can see either the iconic ZTA‑2.6 telescope or the 1‑meter Schmidt telescope, a true scientific landmark. For more details, feel free to contact me directly via WhatsApp or Telegram for a quick response!