Uzbekistan Plans to Send First National Cosmonaut Into Space by 2028

Uzbekistan plans to send its first national cosmonaut into orbit by October 2028, according to officials from the country’s space agency, as Tashkent expands its ambitions in the field of space exploration. Uzbekcosmos Deputy Director Muhiddin Ibrohimov said the mission is expected to last about 14 days and is currently under discussion with the three countries capable of conducting human spaceflights: the United States, Russia, and China. According to Ibrohimov, all three countries have expressed their readiness to cooperate with Uzbekistan on the project. He said the future Uzbek cosmonaut is expected to return from space with the results of scientific experiments carried out during the mission. The authorities are planning to establish a government commission responsible for selecting astronaut candidates and coordinating training and flight preparations. Officials said applicants must be between 27 and 40 years old, hold a university degree, and meet physical requirements, including a height between 160 and 190 centimeters and a weight between 50 and 95 kilograms. Knowledge of foreign languages will also be required. The selection process is expected to take the form of a nationwide program open to the public. The mission is expected to include a program involving experiments in medicine, biology, genetics, and other priority fields. Uzbekistan’s plans build on earlier statements from Russian officials offering support for the country’s space ambitions. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that the Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov had said Moscow was ready to assist Uzbekistan in preparing and sending its first national cosmonaut into orbit, as well as launching the country’s first artificial satellite. Manturov said President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had set the goal of developing Uzbekistan’s space capabilities, including human spaceflight and satellite technology. Russia has also recently expressed its willingness to support other Central Asian countries in space exploration. In April, Russian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ivan Volynkin said Moscow was prepared to help train a Turkmen cosmonaut if Ashgabat showed interest.

Russia Offers Support for Uzbekistan’s First Cosmonaut and Satellite Launch

Russia is ready to help Uzbekistan prepare and send its first national cosmonaut into orbit and launch its first artificial satellite, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov was quoted as saying by TASS. Manturov noted that Uzbekistan has set an ambitious goal of entering space exploration. “At the end of last year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined the task of preparing and sending the country’s first national cosmonaut into near-Earth orbit and launching its first artificial satellite,” he said. “As a strategic partner of Uzbekistan, we welcome these plans and are ready to use all our extensive experience and expertise to help implement them,” Manturov added. He also said Russia is currently engaged in preliminary discussions with several countries across the Commonwealth of Independent States, as well as in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, on training astronauts and developing communication and Earth observation satellites. Russia has made similar offers to other Central Asian states. A few days earlier, Russia’s ambassador to Turkmenistan, Ivan Volynkin, said Moscow would support the training of a cosmonaut from Turkmenistan if Ashgabat expressed interest. His comments were published on the embassy’s official Telegram channel during an event marking the 65th anniversary of the first human spaceflight. Volynkin also highlighted the achievements of Oleg Kononenko, a native of Turkmenabat, who holds the record for the longest cumulative time spent in space, exceeding 1,100 days. He currently heads the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. According to the ambassador, cooperation between Russia and Turkmenistan in the space sector could also include satellite production, launch services, navigation technologies, and joint scientific research.