As part of the international SPACE DAYS KAZAKHSTAN-2026 forum, JSC NC “Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary” and Hydrosat S.à r.l. signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at jointly exploring the concept of a thermal infrared (TIR) satellite constellation for Central Asia.

The document was signed by Kaiyrzhan Kozhayev, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC NC “Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary,” and Pieter Fossel, Chief Executive Officer of Hydrosat S.à r.l.

The Memorandum provides a framework for further cooperation in the application of thermal satellite data for monitoring and analyzing water resources, agricultural areas, and climate and environmental processes in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia.

Under the cooperation, the parties intend to jointly assess the technical, organizational, and potential financial aspects of developing a TIR satellite constellation, as well as identify further areas for collaboration.

Thermal infrared imaging provides information on the temperature characteristics of the Earth’s surface and complements conventional optical imagery. Such data can be used to assess crop water stress, evaporation and evapotranspiration, agricultural land conditions, water-use efficiency, as well as climate and environmental changes.

“For Kazakhstan, the sustainable and efficient use of water resources and the adoption of advanced technologies for their monitoring are of strategic importance. Our partnership with Hydrosat S.à r.l. 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,” said Kaiyrzhan Kozhayev, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC NC “Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary.”

         The cooperation between the parties builds on ongoing efforts to apply satellite data to water resource management and agricultural monitoring in Kazakhstan. Joint exploration of TIR observation capabilities is aimed at developing additional tools for assessing the condition of natural resources and supporting informed decision-making.

         “Water security is becoming one of the key factors of sustainable development in Central Asia. Governments and industries need timely and reliable data to support decision-making in water resource management, agriculture, and climate change adaptation. Together with Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary, we are working to develop a dedicated thermal satellite constellation that could provide additional data to help address these challenges”, - said Pieter Fossel, Chief Executive Officer of Hydrosat.

         The signing of the Memorandum marks another step in expanding Kazakhstan’s international cooperation in space technologies and Earth observation. The SPACE DAYS KAZAKHSTAN-2026 forum also features a dedicated session focused on the use of satellite data to improve water-use efficiency and promote sustainable management of transboundary river basins.

         During President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Belgium in June 2026, the parties signed an agreement on joint activities aimed at advancing satellite analytics for water resource management and agriculture. The new Memorandum broadens the areas of cooperation and provides a basis for further developing the concept of a TIR satellite constellation.

         The development of specialized satellite capabilities could contribute to strengthening the region’s Earth observation capacity and providing additional data to address challenges related to water and food security, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and sustainable natural resource management.

         Background

           JSC NC “Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary” is Kazakhstan’s national space company, operating in the fields of Earth observation, space geodesy, and navigation.

           Hydrosat S.à r.l. is a leading thermal intelligence company helping governments and enterprises monitor the physical world through infrared satellite data and analytics. By combining proprietary thermal imagery, AI-driven models, and cloud-based delivery platforms, Hydrosat turns surface temperature into operational intelligence for some of the world’s most pressing resources, security, and climate challenges.

Hydrosat’s solutions are used to assess water stress, optimize agricultural production, monitor environmental and industrial conditions, and support strategic government applications. The company serves customers across agriculture, water management, environmental monitoring, defense and intelligence, and climate resilience.