The “Samarkand-2028” hyperspectral satellite is scheduled to launch into orbit on August 5 aboard a rocket operated by Chinese aerospace company STAR.VISION. The mission marks an important milestone for Uzbekistan, as it will be the first time an artificial intelligence module developed by Uzbekcosmos specialists is deployed in space.
“Samarkand-2028” is equipped with hyperspectral imaging technology, allowing it to capture Earth’s surface across hundreds of spectral bands. Unlike conventional optical satellites, hyperspectral sensors can detect information invisible to the human eye, providing significantly more detailed environmental data. The satellite is expected to support applications such as:
- monitoring cotton, wheat, and other agricultural crops;
- assessing air quality;
- tracking forests and natural resources;
- detecting environmental changes;
- analyzing land use and agricultural conditions.
One of the mission’s key innovations is the integration of an AI module developed by Uzbekcosmos. Traditional Earth observation satellites typically transmit raw imagery back to ground stations for processing. In contrast, Samarkand-2028 will process part of its data directly onboard while in orbit. This approach offers several advantages:
- reducing the amount of data that needs to be transmitted to Earth;
- enabling faster access to processed information;
- improving the overall efficiency of satellite operations.
The Samarkand-2028 project originated from a memorandum of understanding signed in 2025 between Uzbekcosmos and China’s STAR.VISION. As part of the collaboration: the satellite was named “Samarkand-2028”, Uzbekistan developed the onboard AI module, hyperspectral data will be used to create national maps for cotton and wheat monitoring, both sides agreed to expand scientific and technological cooperation in the space sector.
Although Samarkand-2028 is not an independently developed Uzbek satellite, its strategic significance lies in the deployment of an AI module created by Uzbek engineers as part of a space mission.
If the onboard AI performs successfully, it could pave the way for future projects in Earth observation, precision agriculture, and geospatial data analytics. More importantly, the mission demonstrates Uzbekistan’s growing expertise in combining artificial intelligence with space technologies, highlighting the country’s ambitions to become a contributor to the global space innovation ecosystem rather than solely a consumer of advanced technologies.
