Kyrgyzstan has launched its first national satellite from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking a new step in the country’s space technology development.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, who is in the US on a working visit, attended the launch ceremony on October 1, according to the presidential administration’s press service.

The satellite was carried into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of a group of spacecraft. It will be operated from a control center in Bishkek.

The project is the result of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the United Arab Emirates.

The satellite is expected to expand the country’s capabilities in monitoring agricultural land, glaciers, water resources, forests and pastures. It will also help track changes in ecosystems and assess the risks of natural disasters.

The data collected will be used to identify illegal subsoil exploitation, detect unauthorized dumpsites, monitor sources of pollution and optimize logistics routes.

In the future, satellite data is expected to be integrated into Kyrgyzstan’s government digital systems to develop spatial maps and analytical models.

“This will make it possible to use objective data in government decision-making, investment planning and monitoring the implementation of state programs,” the presidential administration said.