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.
The Carolina Herrera fashion house celebrated its 45th anniversary with a vibrant runway show at New York's Fashion Week on Monday,&n...
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote launched Africa's biggest-ever share sale on Monday, opening the oil ref...
Foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand delivered opening statements on Tuesday at the first meeting of a UN ar...
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), adding to concerns about energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline on Saturday.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrainian Railways said that the country's railways were facing systematic attacks for a second day and warned of widespread delays.
U.S. Central Command said 101 commercial vessels have been redirected in the Strait of Hormuz, while oil prices rose more than three per cent amid fresh regional attacks and supply concerns.
Swedes vote in an election on Sunday (13 September) that could see the far-right enter government for the first time if the country's right-wing parties can form a majority.
A Russian strike on a farm warehouse in Pryluky, north-central Ukraine, has killed at least three people, local police said. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said an attack on a train near the Polish border was an attempt to intimidate Ukraine's allies.
Syria says it has taken major steps to resolve long-running concerns over its nuclear programme, marking what officials describe as the beginning of a new phase of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Georgia has been formally integrated into the European Union's Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), bringing Anaklia Deep-Sea Port, Georgian Railway's main line and the East-West Highway into the network's expanded framework.
Türkiye’s foreign minister has renewed calls for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to disarm and disband, during talks with Syrian officials in Damascus.
Pakistan is providing targeted relief to millions of people after a sharp rise in global oil prices pushed domestic petrol and diesel prices higher, with disruption around two major Middle East shipping routes adding pressure to the country’s energy supply chain.
The European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have launched a $5.7 million initiative in Afghanistan to help farmers reach markets, strengthen agribusinesses and withstand climate and economic shocks.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment