Kyrgyzstan's 'Elon Musk' plans rocket launches and a spaceport

Kyrgyzstan may soon join the ranks of nations with space ambitions, as the founder of the NanoSpace scientific and educational center, Ulan Salamatov, has announced plans to develop domestic rocket technology and potentially establish a spaceport.

Salamatov told 24.kg that his team is actively working on civilian rocket systems, with current prototypes capable of reaching altitudes of up to two kilometers. The center is targeting a stratospheric launch within the current year and is also focused on nurturing future talent by planning to open a rocket science faculty at a Kyrgyz university next year.

The ambitious vision includes constructing a dedicated spaceport in the sparsely populated, high-altitude At-Bashy district of Naryn Oblast. Salamatov highlighted the region's advantages, including its low population density and elevated plateau, which could reduce rocket fuel consumption by up to 15 percent during launches.

While acknowledging that the spaceport idea might seem like science fiction now, Salamatov emphasized it as a long-term objective, potentially achievable within the next few decades. The full interview with Salamatov is set to be published on June 15.

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the idea of creating a spaceport may seem fantastic now, however, the project is considered a long-term goal that can be realized in the coming decades.