Kazakhstan's space industry is gradually transitioning from a formation stage to systemic development. While the Baikonur Cosmodrome was previously considered the country's primary asset, the focus is now shifting toward creating satellites, developing data analytics, and building an engineering school.
From Images to Analytics
In recent years, the industry has seen a qualitative shift: space technologies are no longer perceived solely as observation tools.
"Previously, we viewed satellites as a source of images - black and white or color. Today, it is multispectral data that serves as the foundation for analytics," Kaiyrzhan Kozhaev, Chairman of the Board of JSC "Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary." noted.
According to him, the next stage involved not just obtaining images but interpreting them. Space data has begun to be actively used by government agencies ranging from territorial monitoring to making management decisions.
This transition aligns with a global trend: the international space industry is increasingly focusing on the data and services provided rather than the spacecraft themselves.
What Has Been Achieved during five years
Over the last five years, the industry has moved from being a consumer of foreign technology to making its first attempts at indigenous production. Kaiyrzhan Kozhaev highlights two key achievements.
First is maturity in the field of space monitoring. Kazakhstan has learned not just to receive satellite imagery but to interpret it correctly and integrate it into management processes. Ministries now use space data to monitor agricultural land, water bodies, and environmental changes.
The second achievement is the start of domestic spacecraft production. Three spacecraft will be assembled by Kazakhstani engineers on Kazakhstani soid a fundamentally different status in the market.
"It will be 'Made in Kazakhstan.' We cannot say that 100% of the components are ours there are key components that are ours, but our actual participation here is already substantial."
The third measurable result is the first export contracts. African and Asian countries, specifically the Republic of the Congo, are placing orders not only for satellite services but also for the creation of spacecraft.
International Cooperation: Betting on Transfer
Unlike global giants, Kazakhstan is ready for full technology transfer, understanding that in today’s world, the speed of change is more important than a monopoly on knowledge.
"The world is very digital and changes rapidly. Anything we transfer might not even remain 'know-how' in the next five years. By preparing any partner country - be it the Republic of the Congo or Nigeria - we are creating reliable future partners for data acquisition and engineer training. If we establish these relationships now, it will return to us in 15–20 years."
As a model, Kaiyrzhan Kozhaev cites South Africa—a country that until recently was not taken seriously in a space context, but which today is significantly represented in the "New Space" market: local contractors produce components for international systems, and several companies are based there.
Personnel: Space is Not Just for Niche Specialists
The shortage of specialists in the industry is a global problem, and Kazakhstan is no exception.
"In space, there isn't such a narrow focus where we only talk about 'aerospace engineers,' 'ballistics experts,'