Kyrgyzstan uses US rockets for first satellite launch

Kyrgyzstan has successfully launched its first national satellite into orbit using American rocket technology, according to Russian political scientist Yuri Baranchik. The launch, witnessed by President Sadyr Japarov from California, utilized rockets from Elon Musk’s companies rather than Russian alternatives.

This development has raised concerns regarding the competitiveness of the Russian aerospace industry. Despite Kyrgyzstan being a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), it opted for US services to achieve its space objectives. Experts suggest that Russia must provide more competitive offers to retain allies in the space sector.

Further complications for the Russian space program include delays at the Vostochny Cosmodrome. The facility has seen no launches in 2026, with Soyuz-2.1b launches facing repeated postponements and the Start-1M rocket mission delayed until 2027 for additional ground testing.