For Kazakhstan Garysh Sapary (Space agency) JSC this year is crucial, Gabdullatif Murzakulov
Originally it was called Kazkosmos being created by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan Decree as of 17 March 2005 with one hundred percent state participation in the authorized capital. In August 2007, the National Space Agency of Kazakhstan JSC "Kazkosmos" was renamed to "NC" Kazakhstan Garysh Sapary " JSC.
The President of "NC" KGS " JSC Gabdullatif Murzakulov in the interview with our agency told about with what results the company is celebrating its next birthday leading aerospace company in Kazakhstan.
- Gabdullatif Turganbaevich, the mission of "Kazakhstan Garysh Sapary" is the development and introduction of competitive space technology for the benefit of our country. Which specific technologies are spoken about?
- Eight years ago the company had other, more general problems. So, when creating it was "involvement in the development and implementation of ongoing, interdisciplinary programs in the field of space activities of Kazakhstan." Over the years the company has determined its activity by choosing the way of progress. Actually we can safely say: Yes, our target is exploration and introduction of competitive space technology the following fact. In its current Address to the nation our President specifically said: "By 2030, Kazakhstan has to expand its niche in the global market space and to bring to fruition a number of ongoing projects. I mean assembling and testing complex spacecraft, remote sensing systems, a national system of space monitoring and ground infrastructure, high-precision satellite navigation system. "
It is just about the projects being undertaken by our company. By the way, all of these projects were included in the State Program of Forced Industrial and Innovative Development (SPFIID). We estimate that out of the nineteen projects of this scale five state programs dedicated to the exploration of Kazakhstan's space, the three of them are carried out by "NC" KGS". "For the first time in the main program of the industrial development of our country have been identified specific targets for the enhancement of space activities in Kazakhstan. For the first time we are talking about the real participation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the formation of space services market, and major international space projects. And it must be said, that it has inspired all our employees! We see this as a huge confidence in Kazkosmos, led by a true professional, the chairman of the National Space Agency of Kazakhstan Talgat Musabayev. And for us, as a subordinate enterprise, that is huge responsibility.
- As far as we know, all three projects have been included in the National Space Centre (NSC), which is being created in Astana.
- It's true. I would say even more - the overall development of Kazakhstan's space industry has been planned on the basis of the NSC. This will be a space camp, at least 30 hectares. NSC construction will cost 370 million euros, for the period of operation there will be news 400 jobs. The structure of the NSC will cover five areas: industrial, administrative, educational, social and residential.
Construction of facilities of two complexes is being carried out simultaneously and, in accordance with the schedule it is to be completed in 2017. Three separate projects will be launched in the first phase. First one among them is Kazakhstan's precision satellite navigation system, or, more simply, PSNS.
The most accurate spatial data is provided by PSNS ground infrastructure. It will be a network of special differential stations (DS), located throughout the country. These stations are able to take the existing GPS and GLONASS signals and then send them to the center of differential correction and monitoring that will be part of the space camp structure. Here, professionals can take into account and address the distortion of standard signals arising due to many factors (via video - graphics with reflections and refractions signals). As a result, the end user will get the corrected signal, which is more accurate. By the way, today, several DS are already operating in pilot mode. The first five stations we have set up in the Akmola region, five more stations have been set up in Almaty region. These 10 stations have been joined by us in the regional system, and the system is already running. By 2015, the number of stations will grow by 50. And by that time Kazakhstan's precision satellite navigation system will be working at full capacity. DS will be established not only on land but also at sea - in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian sea. In addition mobile stations will be in the arsenal of the differential network. They will be needed in the areas where there is no DS.
The second project to be realized through the creation of the space center will be a cosmic system of remote sensing (CS of ERS). Due to the technical parameters it promises to be one of the most advanced in the world. The structure of the system consists of two segments, the space and ground. The first one is like two low-orbit satellites. The purpose of these satellites is photographing the Earth's surface. The ground one will carry out their management as well as receiving, processing and transmitting data to the end user. By the way, the construction of this complex in the outer town is nearing completion. By the end of the year medium-resolution antenna will receive a signal from the first Kazakh satellite remote sensing.
-Could you tell us more about the first Kazakh satellite remote sensing: when they will start, what their characteristics are?
-The first electro-optical satellite is scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter of 2013 from "Yasnyi" launching site in Russia. Accuracy Resolution of the Kazakh satellite ERS-1 makes 6.5 meters, and the active lifetime - at least 7 years. The performance of the spacecraft is very high - up to 1 million square kilometers per day, with a 77 km ground swath and the ability to stereo. The second satellite ERS-2 is of high resolution. It will be able to capture up to a meter. Its launch is planned from French Kourou in 2014. This satellite will also hold a space of at least 7 years. Locking band of the satellite is 20 kilometers. At night it would be able to read in the surface area of 220,000 square kilometers.
The creation of these satellites is carried out together with our French colleagues from the world class company called EADS Astrium. Under their guidance during the first six months after launch, the satellite will take orbit tests of vehicles. Then they will move to full balance of our national company. Local experts, who will work with these satellites, have already been trained. 47 people were educated in France and England. 24 people out of them are the developers and engineers. The remaining 23 people are "nazemschiki" (ground-based) that will control the spacecraft and process the images.
-What does emergence of our own remote sensing satellites give Kazakhstan?
-With the help of remote sensing one can retrieve data from the whole territory of Kazakhstan. This will save money that are actually spent on services of foreign satellites.
For example, because we do not have our own system CS of ERS our institutions annually spend on the purchase of these images more than 100 million dollars! And, of course, our own system of remote sensing delivers a new level of the work of many government agencies and departments. The ecologists will monitor the environmental record of air, water and soil, and detect oil spills. Emergency services will be able to assess the consequences of emergency situations and make more accurate decisions to eliminate them. In addition, this system allows for mapping difficult terrain, determine the area of agricultural crops, take pictures of the mineral deposits, designing roads, and oil and gas pipelines.
- What can you say about the construction of the assembly and test facility spacecraft (SBIK SC, the building that will be "packed with" cutting-edge technologies?
- Yes, you're right. We began to build this object in the first place, it requires a special approach. The complex is a high-tech enterprise to assemble satellites for various purposes. The structure of the complex will include three divisions. This is a design office, where they will design a spacecraft pilot plant for the production of individual parts of satellites and, finally, the final assembly area. And to end up, there is a closed-cycle production. And for the assembled devices to clearly operate in the harsh conditions of space, a unique proving ground will be set up where they will be subjected to all kinds of stresses and tests. In the assembly and test complex there will assembling and testing of the spacecraft weighting one hundred pounds to six tons. These are remote sensing satellites, telecommunication satellites, scientific and technical ones. SBIK project is also being implemented in the framework of the Kazakh-French cooperation. International status will allow certifying the set at an appropriate level, so that Kazakhstan will be able to take orders for the assembly of satellites from other countries. According to the calculations of the specialists, in the next ten years, the global demand for space vehicles for various purposes will increase by 47%. This means that our country has a chance to take a decent niche in this segment of space industry.
- What mood are the employees of your company in on the eve of the anniversary?
- In good mood. This year, thanks to the support of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Kazkosmos, we have increased organizational and technical staff of the company to the required level. All staff is aware of the objectives, which were announced by the Head of State throughout the country. Our working group is aware of the responsibility and will strain every sinew, knowledge and experience for job execution. Recognition of our capabilities is the fact that by the Government order May 31, 2012 the company has been identified as the national operator of space remote sensing of the Earth and the national operator of high-precision satellite navigation system to provide satellite navigation services and the development of satellite navigation technology throughout Kazakhstan. Every year gets under the auspices of basic issue: training, technology transfer, implementation of project management, and etc.
2013 for us it is critically important, it will show first actual results of the company's functioning throughout its existence. During this year we have scheduled to submit several objects of space infrastructure of the NSC, and, as I have mentioned, to launch the first satellite remote sensing. We are thinking of the business component: the Company has established the Centre for space services at the beginning of this year.
As for the state of mind in general, over the past five years of progressive development of space activities in Kazakhstan the belief has strengthened that the domestic space industry will succeed. Today everyone understands that the socio-economic development can not be successfully implemented without the use of space technology and engineering. And, just having become a space power, Kazakhstan could become one of the thirty most powerful countries in the world.
- Thank you for the interview!