Uzbekistan has successfully launched the Samarkand-2028 hyperspectral Earth observation satellite into orbit, marking a major milestone in the country's national space programme and technological cooperation with China.
The satellite was launched on 5 August from a sea-based launch platform off China's Shandong Province in partnership with Chinese aerospace company STAR.VISION. It was launched alongside the Lampung-1 satellite.
According to Uzbekistan's Uzcosmos agency, the mission represents one of the country's largest international space projects to date and opens a new chapter in the development of its domestic space industry.
A key feature of Samarkand-2028 is an onboard artificial intelligence module developed by specialists at Uzcosmos.
The system enables part of the hyperspectral data collected by the satellite to be processed directly in orbit before being transmitted to Earth. This reduces the amount of data sent to ground stations while accelerating analysis and improving operational efficiency.
Unlike conventional Earth observation satellites, Samarkand-2028 captures reflected light across more than 20 spectral bands, allowing it to detect information that is invisible to the human eye.
The satellite's data will be used across a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, water resource management, environmental protection, natural resource monitoring, urban planning and early disaster detection.
Officials say the project will also help train a new generation of Uzbek specialists in satellite engineering, artificial intelligence and space data processing.
According to Farkhod Makhmudkhujaev, head of the AI and Programming Department at Uzcosmos, Samarkand-2028 is expected to remain operational for five to seven years.
During its mission, the satellite will support a wide range of applications, including precision agriculture, environmental protection, water management, urban planning and emergency monitoring, while also helping to develop Uzbekistan's expertise in artificial intelligence and space technologies.
The satellite's name commemorates Samarkand's selection as the host city of the 79th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in 2028, a decision announced during the 2025 congress in Sydney.
The mission forms part of Uzbekistan's broader strategy to expand its presence in the global space sector. The country is also developing its first domestically built 6U CubeSat, a compact research satellite designed for Earth observation and scientific missions, which is expected to launch in 2028 under the name Mirzo Ulugbek.
Officials are also working towards sending Uzbekistan's first national astronaut into space in the future.
U.S. President Donald Trump said there was an "all-day negotiation" on Tuesday with Iran, characterising the talks positively while also threatening t...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 5th of August, covering the latest developments....
Turkish top-tier side Trabzonspor said they have begun transfer negotiations with Mohamed Salah, with the club chairman adding they hoped to sign the ...
Tehran had made plans to strike sites in Ukraine after Kyiv attacked an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea, a senior Iranian military adviser has said. Iran refrained from taking action after Kyiv said the strike was a mistake, Mohsen Rezaei told the state IRIB TV channel.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 5th of August, covering the latest developments.
Nauru, the world’s third smallest country, has changed its name to Naoero, the Pacific island nation’s President said. The new name corresponds to the spelling and pronunciation in the national language.
U.S. President Donald Trump said there was an "all-day negotiation" on Tuesday with Iran, characterising the talks positively while also threatening to hit Iran "really hard" if a deal was not reached.
The U.S. has made its visa bond programme permanent for citizens of 50 countries, requiring some business and tourist visa applicants to pay refundable deposits of up to $20,000. Several Central Asian countries remain on the list, but Uzbekistan is not.
The Israeli army carried out separate incursions into Syria's southern provinces of Daraa and Quneitra on Tuesday, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Lebanon has marked the sixth anniversary of the Beirut port explosion, with victims' families gathering to remember those killed while cautiously hoping the long-delayed investigation is finally nearing its conclusion.
More than 800 Afghan families returned from Pakistan and Iran over two days as Afghan authorities continued receiving thousands of people arriving through deportations and voluntary returns from neighbouring countries.
Türkiye has urged Russia and Ukraine to protect civilian shipping in the Black Sea after a drone struck a Turkish-owned cargo ship, reportedly injuring three crew members. Ankara said attacks on commercial vessels risk further destabilising maritime security.
Central Asian countries are adapting their energy strategies as Russia’s fuel sector comes under mounting pressure from Ukrainian drone attacks on oil infrastructure and continuing export restrictions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment