# China launches Uzbekistan's Samarkand-2028 satellite, carrying an AI module built by Uzbek engineers
> China's Star Vision Technology launched the Samarkand-2028 hyperspectral Earth observation satellite on August 5 alongside Indonesia's Lampung-1; the Samarkand-2028 carries an artificial intelligence module developed by Uzbekistan's space agency Uzcosmos, marking a shift from Uzbekistan buying Chinese satellites to contributing core software components

**Meta:** type: event · date: 2026-08-04 · heads: 長期戦 · 3 takes · 3 lenses · 2 regions

## Summary

[China](/ja/entity/china)'s Star Vision Technology launched the Samarkand-2028 hyperspectral Earth observation satellite on August 5, together with Indonesia's Lampung-1 on the same vehicle. The Samarkand-2028 carries an AI processing module developed by specialists at [Uzbekistan](/ja/entity/uzbekistan)'s space agency Uzcosmos, with a launch window of 7-9 a.m. Tashkent time. The mission marks a step beyond Uzbekistan simply procuring Chinese-built satellites: Uzbek engineers contributed core software components for Earth observation data analysis. [China's commercial launch sector](/ja/entity/china-launch) has expanded such capacity-building partnerships with Central Asian and Southeast Asian states as part of its broader space programme.

## The split

All reporting originates from Uzbek or Central Asian outlets, reflecting the story's prominence as a domestic space milestone for Uzbekistan rather than a globally contested development. No independent Western or Chinese state-media account appears in the feed for this launch. The Times of Central Asia was the only outlet to frame the partnership explicitly as a growing strategic relationship rather than a one-off technical collaboration.

## By the numbers

- 2, satellites launched on August 5: Samarkand-2028 (Uzbekistan) and Lampung-1 (Indonesia)
- 1, AI module designed and built by Uzcosmos for the Samarkand-2028

## Why it matters

Uzbekistan is building indigenous AI and space capacity through its China partnership rather than relying on satellite imports alone. Samarkand-2028's Earth observation mission has civilian applications in agriculture and disaster monitoring, but hyperspectral satellites carry dual-use reconnaissance potential, a distinction likely to draw attention from US and European space-security analysts reviewing Central Asian ties with Beijing.

## What to watch

- Whether Samarkand-2028 successfully reaches operational orbit and begins returning data
- Uzbekistan's next space project with China and whether other Central Asian states follow the same model
- US or European commentary on Central Asia's growing Chinese space infrastructure dependency

## Regional takes (batched by bias / lens)

### Uzbek online news; first report on the launch, framing Samarkand-2028 as a new practical step in Uzbekistan's space technology capacity
- **Zamin.uz** (Uzbekistan, en) — Zamin.uz reported the Samarkand-2028 heading to orbit alongside a second satellite, framing the mission as Uzbekistan's new practical step in space technology and highlighting the AI module developed by Uzbek specialists at Uzcosmos.
  > "Uzbekistan is taking a new practical step in space technology with the Samarkand-2028 heading to orbit with an Uzbek AI module."
  Source: https://zamin.uz/en/technology/216010-samarkand-2028-heads-to-orbit-with-an-uzbek-ai-module.html

### Uzbek English-language outlet with official sourcing; provides launch window details and confirms China's Star Vision as the launch provider alongside Indonesia's Lampung-1
- **Gazeta.uz** (Uzbekistan, en) — Gazeta.uz confirmed the Samarkand-2028 launch scheduled for August 5 with a 7-9 a.m. Tashkent time window aboard China's Star Vision rocket, noting the satellite pairs with Indonesia's Lampung-1 on the same mission and carries an AI module developed by Uzcosmos specialists.
  > "China's Star Vision will launch the Samarkand-2028 and Lampung-1 hyperspectral Earth observation satellites on 5 August; Samarkand-2028 features an AI module developed by Uzcosmos specialists."
  Source: https://www.gazeta.uz/en/2026/08/04/samarkand-2028/

### Regional English-language press covering all five Central Asian states; places the launch in the context of Uzbekistan's growing strategic space partnership with China
- **The Times of Central Asia** (Central Asia, en) — The Times of Central Asia framed the Samarkand-2028 launch as a new stage in Uzbekistan's space partnership with China, noting that Uzbek engineers are developing AI systems for Chinese-built Earth observation satellites, a capacity-building step beyond a simple procurement relationship.
  > "Uzbek engineers are developing an AI system for a Chinese-built Earth observation satellite, marking a new stage in Uzbekistan's growing space partnership with China."
  Source: https://timesca.com/uzbekistan-china-satellite-ai-development/

## Across the graph
- Entities: Uzbekistan, China, China Launch

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