Uzbekistan has begun preparations to launch its first artificial satellite and train its first astronaut, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced, describing the move as a major milestone in the country’s scientific and technological development.
Speaking during his annual address to parliament, Mirziyoyev said the initiative marked the first time independent Uzbekistan had embarked on a space programme.
“Today I would like to announce another important piece of news,” he said.
“For the first time in the history of independent Uzbekistan, we have begun work on launching an artificial satellite and preparing the first Uzbek astronaut. This will provide a powerful impetus for the country’s scientific and technological development and raise national progress to a new level.”
The announcement comes as part of a broader push to strengthen Uzbekistan’s digital and innovation capacity.
The president said four data centres would open next year in Tashkent, Bukhara, Fergana and the Tashkent region.
He also announced plans to establish two supercomputers and artificial intelligence laboratories at 15 universities, supporting more than 100 AI projects across sectors including medicine, transport, agriculture, geology, finance and public security.
A new Digital Technologies Centre will be created to support young talent, enabling students and researchers to develop projects in areas such as quantum technologies, drones and robotics.
Mukhiddin Ibragimov, deputy director of Uzcosmos, said the president’s remarks signalled a long-term shift in national ambition.
“The statement about launching our first satellite and sending the first Uzbek astronaut to space is a turning point,” he said.
“It shapes our ambitions for the next five to ten years and reflects a growing belief in the role of space in technological development. If a country wants to develop, it must rely on technology, and space can be a powerful source of inspiration for young people.”
Uzbekistan’s move into space reflects a wider strategy to use science and technology as drivers of economic growth, positioning the country as an emerging participant in global space and innovation efforts.
The Israeli military has begun a new wave of strikes on Tehran, it said late on Monday. The strikes came after it issued...
At least 42 people have been killed and 104 wounded in fighting between Afghan...
Air fares between Asia and Europe have jumped sharply after Gulf hubs, including Dubai, partially reopened following closures caused by the Mi...
U.S. first lady, Melania Trump chaired a UN Security Council meeting on children and education in conflict on Mond...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stori...
Uzbekistan has expressed deep concern over the rapid escalation of tensions in the Middle East, urging restraint and diplomatic resolution as the conflict begins to affect civilian aviation and regional security.
More than 661,000 citizens of Uzbekistan have registered on licensed cryptocurrency platforms, as the country continues to formalise and regulate its digital asset sector, according to the National Agency for Prospective Projects (NAPP).
Central Asia’s population could reach 96 million by 2040, according to the head of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), highlighting both the region’s economic potential and the growing strain on infrastructure, trade routes and long-term development models.
Uzbekistan's president Shavkat Mirziyoyev has held a series of high-level meetings in the U.S. aimed at strengthening bilateral economic and strategic ties between the two countries.
Follow the latest developments and global reaction after the U.S. and Israel launched “major combat operations” in Iran, prompting retaliation from Tehran.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco closed its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday following an Iranian drone strike, an industry source told Reuters as Tehran retaliated across the Gulf after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iranian targets over the weekend.
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on the compound of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei on Saturday that killed him, other family members and senior figures. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. targets in the region.
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi has moved into a pivotal constitutional role following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, becoming the clerical member of Iran’s temporary leadership council under Article 111 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Israeli military has begun a new wave of strikes on Tehran, it said late on Monday. The strikes came after it issued an evacuation warning for residents in Tehran, particularly those residing near state broadcaster IRIB's headquarters.
The U.S. and Israeli air war against Iran widened on Monday, with no end in sight as Israel attacked Lebanon in response to strikes by Hezbollah and Iran kept up its attacks on Gulf states that host U.S. military bases.
Iran and its proxies could target the U.S. with attacks in response to the Saturday killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by Israeli and U.S. strikes, according to a U.S. intelligence assessment reviewed by Reuters.
The U.S. embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones resulting in a limited fire and some material damage, the kingdom's defence ministry said in a post on X on Tuesday, citing an initial assessment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran may take "some time" but it will not take years.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment