Kazakhstan: A Space Odyssey

Kazakhstan Enters the Exclusive Club of Global Space Powers aEuro With Ambitious Plans to Develop the Legendary Baikonur Cosmodrome

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 12 — Since independence, Kazakhstan hes been home to the Baikonur cosmodrome located to the east of the Aral Sea. Though Russia negotiated the use of the launch site until 2050, the agreement signed in 2004 increased Kazakhstan’s role in the site’s management and use for non-military purposes. The cosmodrome is key to the country’s ambitious space plan – which has two major mid-term objectives: the inauguration by 2012 of the Baiterek Space Complex whose construction is due to start in 2008 and the launch of the environment-friendly Angara boosters which use non toxic propellants.

Kazakhstan’s plan to be a major space power is becoming increasingly concrete – with the planned creation of a National Space Agency, the establishment of an International Centre of Space Industry in Baikonur, a National Space Laboratory, a plant to assemble and test space vehicles and the training of specialist engineers.

Kazakhstan is working in partnership with other countries such as Russia, India, France and Spain on space-based telecommunications technology projects, satellite positioning, fundamental and applied space research in the realm of physics, space biotechnology and biomedicine, as well as earth remote sensing.

From 2009, all Kazakh satellite operators will use KazSat, the telecommunications satellite launched by Kazakhstan in 2006. This USD 55 million satellite with a 9-year operational life, supplies television and telecoms services to the entire country. Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have shown interest in this satellite. KazSat should be working to 70-80% of its capacity from the end of 2007. The launch of a second more technologically advanced satellite is scheduled for 2009 and will cost USD 115 million.

In 2008, Kazakhstan will unveil an earth remote sensing system: the data provided will enable Kazakh scientists to locate natural resources deposits with a 70% accuracy rate.

In 2020, the country will have a total of 12 satellites, 30 newly-built or modernised on-ground installations and 12 companies specialising in space vehicle and component construction.

For further information please contact

Sarah Nicholson
s.nicholson@group-ibc.com
+44(0)207-233-9166