BISHKEK, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan's first national satellite was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the United States, on Oct. 1 local time, according to a statement published by the official website of the president of Kyrgyzstan on Friday.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov attended the satellite's launch ceremony during a working visit to the United States. The satellite was launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket operated by the U.S. company SpaceX, the statement said.
The satellite was launched into orbit as part of a group of spacecraft carried by a single launch vehicle. The satellite will be controlled from a center in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, it said.
Data obtained from the satellite will enable the monitoring of agricultural land, glaciers, water bodies, forests and pastures, as well as changes in natural ecosystems, the statement said.
Satellite technologies will be particularly important for the monitoring and early detection of natural hazards, it added, noting that the data obtained will enable the faster detection of signs of droughts, floods, landslides, mudflows and forest fires, creating additional opportunities for timely response and mitigation of potential damage.
In the future, satellite data will be integrated into the country's government digital systems and used to create spatial maps and analytical models. This will enable the use of objective data in government decision-making, investment planning and monitoring the implementation of state programs, the statement said. ■