The press service of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Digital Technologies announced a prospective joint venture between Astana and Tashkent to deploy space satellites. This outline, reported by Eurasia Daily, marks a tangible step toward strengthening regional space infrastructure shared by Central Asian players and the broader near abroad. The project centers on practical satellite programs with civil, scientific, and economic applications that could extend benefits across the region and beyond.
After a bilateral discussion held alongside the Asia-Pacific Digital Inclusion and Transformation Conference, the Ministry indicated that a set of proposals for artificial satellite launches would be prepared with a goal of readiness by the end of 2024. The focus is on building systems that boost digital connectivity, enhance satellite navigation, and improve data exchange. Such capabilities could bolster public services, disaster response, and cross-border research collaborations among both countries and allied partners in North America and Europe, fostering broader interoperability and resilience in digital ecosystems.
Separately, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry stated that the Baiterek space rocket complex is planned to become operational in 2028. The plan includes milestones to validate propulsion systems, ground support infrastructure, and orbital launch capabilities that align with regional space objectives and international collaboration. The timeline suggests an initial test launch by the end of 2025, followed by a second launch in October 2026 and a third in October 2027, with broader operational deployment anticipated in 2028. This phased approach emphasizes safety, reliability, and scalable launch capacity, aiming to attract international partnerships and commercial opportunities across North America, Europe, and Asia.
In another development, Baghdad Mushin, the Minister for Digital Development, Innovation and Aviation Industry in Kazakhstan, noted that Russia has invited Kazakhstan to continue joint research on the International Space Station. The invitation highlights ongoing high-level diplomatic and scientific engagement and demonstrates a sustained regional commitment to participating in long-standing space research programs, even as new collaboration opportunities emerge within the evolving framework of global space governance.
Earlier reporting highlighted that China successfully placed a group of 11 satellites into orbit, underscoring the rapid expansion of regional and global satellite networks. For policymakers and industry stakeholders in North America, such developments illustrate a dynamic space landscape where international cooperation, commercial satellites, and scientific missions intersect. As these regional plans unfold, observers in Canada and the United States will monitor opportunities related to shared technology standards, spectrum management, and potential joint ventures that could strengthen national security, economic vitality, and innovation ecosystems.