LIVE: Launch of the Samarkand-2028 satellite
Uzbekistan plans to launch the Samarkand-2028 hyperspectral Earth remote sensing satellite into orbit on August 5. The launch will take place from the Haiyan-Vostok Cosmodrome in China, from 07:00 to 09:00 Tashkent time.
LIVE: Samarkand-2028 satellite launch
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan plans to launch a hyperspectral Earth-sensing satellite called Samarkand-2028 into orbit on August 5. The launch is expected to take place from China’s Haiyan-Vostok Cosmodrome and is expected to take place between 07:00 and 09:00 Tashkent time.
The launch of the Samarkand-2028 Earth-sensing satellite is being broadcast live on the Uzbekcosmos agency’s YouTube channel.
The satellite was created by the Chinese company STAR.VISION in collaboration with the Uzbek Space Research and Technology Agency — Uzbekcosmos. The agency considers this mission an important step towards the development of the national space program, the introduction of modern technologies, and the strengthening of scientific and technological cooperation between Uzbekistan and China.
Samarkand-2028 is a hyperspectral Earth remote sensing satellite. Unlike traditional satellites operating in limited spectral ranges, it is capable of analyzing radiation reflected from the Earth's surface in more than 20 spectral ranges. This allows for more detailed information on the state of agricultural crops, water and natural resources, the environment, as well as monitoring changes in land use.
One of the main features of the device is an artificial intelligence module developed by Uzbekcosmos specialists. It is designed to process part of the satellite data directly on board the spacecraft before transmitting it to Earth. According to the agency, this will reduce the amount of information transmitted, obtain the necessary information faster and increase the efficiency of its subsequent analysis.
It is planned to use data received from the satellite in the fields of agriculture, water resources management, environmental and natural resource monitoring, early detection of emergencies, urban planning and rational land use. The project will also serve as a technological platform for training national specialists in space technology, artificial intelligence and satellite data processing.
The name "Samarkand-2028" is associated with the fact that Samarkand will host the 79th International Astronautical Congress in 2028. The decision to hold this forum in Uzbekistan was made at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney (Australia) in 2025.
The agency noted that the launch date may be changed or postponed in the event of adverse weather conditions or technical risks. Such decisions are common in international practice and are made to ensure the safety of a space mission and the reliable operation of all systems.