Kazakhstan's Path to Space: From Early Orbits to the Export of Advanced Technologies

Kazakhstan's journey to the stars is not merely a chronicle of launches — it is a story of the emergence of national technological sovereignty and the transition to a full life-cycle model for space systems. The foundation of this story was laid in October 1991, when the first Kazakhstani cosmonaut, Toktar Aubakirov, lifted off from the legendary Baikonur aboard Soyuz TM-13. His mission launched unique research into biotechnology and the ecology of the Aral Sea region, and the baton of space exploration was carried forward with distinction by Aidyn Aimbetov, whose scientific programme aboard the ISS encompassed highly complex physical experiments with Coulomb crystals and the monitoring of Caspian Sea ecosystems.

Today, space has transformed from an arena of high achievement into a powerful sector of Kazakhstan's economy and national security. The unique Spacecraft Assembly and Test Complex — the only facility of its kind in Central Asia — has been commissioned for industrial operation in Astana. Through certification by world leaders such as Airbus Defence & Space and the achievement of a 30% localisation level, the country has moved from operating foreign-made equipment to developing its own satellite solutions. The trust placed in Kazakhstani engineers is evidenced by the first export orders for Earth remote sensing systems for Congo and Nigeria, as well as the design of the OTS-Sat technology satellite within the framework of the Organisation of Turkic States. Alongside this, Kazakhstan is strengthening its technological independence by developing critical components and designing domestic meteorological rockets, which are prospectively to be scaled up to an ultra-light launch vehicle class.

The economic returns from space activities already run into the billions: the cumulative effect of monitoring services over the past five years has reached 977 billion tenge. The KazSat satellite constellation fully meets the country's needs in communications and broadcasting, delivering import substitution worth more than 120 billion tenge, while the KazSat-3R project guarantees the long-term stability of this infrastructure. Space technologies have become firmly embedded in everyday life — from providing 1,000 rural schools with internet access via the Starlink system to the operation of the EVAK emergency response system, which has processed millions of calls. The deployment of navigation systems enables real-time monitoring of international freight transport and enhances road safety.

Kazakhstan's gaze is also directed into deep space. Kazakhstani scientists participate in NASA international missions such as DART, and the national Space Situational Awareness (SSA) network — currently comprising 12 telescopes with a planned expansion to 30 — has become an important link in the global monitoring system for space threats. A place of particular importance in Kazakhstan's plans is reserved for participation in the lunar programme: the creation of a Kazakhstani circumlunar telescope will enable unique observations of the Moon's surface and of space activity in cislunar space. The modernisation of Baikonur is also continuing as part of the Industry Development Concept to 2029. The Baiterek project — targeting the test launch of the Soyuz-5/Sunkar rocket in 2026 — and the development of tourist infrastructure with the opening of the authentic QAZCOSMOS observation point confirm that Kazakhstan is confidently transforming its historic potential into a driver of digital civilisation, opening new horizons for future generations.