Hydrosat and Kazakhstan to Evaluate Thermal Satellite

Hydrosat and Kazakhstan's national space company, JSC "NC "Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary" (KGS), have established a framework to evaluate developing a dedicated thermal infrared satellite constellation. The initiative, announced on 8 September 2026, targets water security applications across Central Asia.

This collaboration is based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The companies will explore the feasibility of a national satellite capability to provide thermal data. The data would support water and food security, environmental monitoring, and critical infrastructure planning.

The project builds on earlier cooperation between the firms on satellite-based water intelligence. It aims to provide a foundation for expanding thermal Earth-observation capabilities across Kazakhstan and the wider region. The partnership also marks an expansion of Hydrosat's role from a data provider to a partner helping governments establish long-term strategic Earth observation missions through national satellite programs.

Kaiyrzhan Kozhayev, Chairman of the Board of JSC NC "KGS," stated the partnership's importance. "For Kazakhstan, the sustainable and efficient use of water resources and the adoption of advanced technologies for their monitoring are of strategic importance," he said. "Our partnership with Hydrosat opens up new opportunities for the use of thermal satellite data and lays the conceptual foundation for a future satellite constellation tailored to the needs of Kazakhstan and the countries of Central Asia."## Addressing Regional Water Security

Climate pressures, aging infrastructure, and growing competition for shared water resources have made reliable water access a strategic national priority."Water security has become fundamental to national resilience," Fossel said. "Governments need trusted, independent information to make decisions about critical resources and economic stability. Together with Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary, we're working to develop dedicated thermal satellite capabilities that can provide that intelligence while strengthening long-term national capacity."

Evaluating a Sovereign Capability

Access to reliable and trusted Earth observation data is now seen as an essential element of national infrastructure. Governments are increasingly investing in national satellite capabilities to reduce dependence on external data sources.

Reflecting this global shift, the new MoU will see Hydrosat and KGS evaluate multiple pathways. They will assess technical, operational, and commercial routes to establish a sovereign thermal infrared capability. The evaluation will also support wider regional priorities around water security, environmental stewardship, and digital infrastructure. The work continues the companies' earlier collaboration, aiming to translate conceptual plans into a concrete national satellite constellation.