Turkic States Adopt Space-Focused Ankara Declaration
Member states of the Organization of Turkic States prioritized space and aviation initiatives at their 13th summit and signed a space-industry cooperation framework in Antalya.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Space
Live Poll
Should your country spend more public money on space and science programs?
The Organization of Turkic States adopted the Ankara Declaration at its 13th summit, placing greater emphasis on space and aviation than the earlier Gabala Declaration. Member states also signed the First Framework Agreement on Developing Cooperation Capacity in the Space Industry in Antalya on Oct. 6.
Why it matters
The declaration signals a coordinated push by Turkic states to build shared capacity in space technology and aviation. Joint projects such as the TDT-SAT CubeSat show how the bloc aims to move from policy statements to operational missions.
The Ankara Declaration is an official summit document, and the framework agreement is a signed intergovernmental instrument, yet the stub gives no budget figures for either. The T3 Foundation reports 33 science centers across seven countries and more than 6.5 million visitors, but how its reach translates into space-industry capacity remains unstated.
The players
Organization of Turkic States
An intergovernmental body of Turkic-speaking countries that coordinates cooperation across politics, economics, and culture, and now has space and aviation among its priorities.
Turkish Space Agency
Türkiye's national space agency, which runs the Space Explorers Türkiye Space Camp Program to develop young talent in space science.
T3 Foundation
A Turkish science-education foundation that operates 33 science centers in seven countries and has reached more than 6.5 million visitors.
The details
The Organization of Turkic States' 13th summit adopted the Ankara Declaration, which prioritizes space and aviation initiatives more strongly than the previous Gabala Declaration. Members also welcomed the framework agreement signed in Antalya, and said they will organize Turkic World Space Days alongside major international gatherings.
Timeline
Oct. 6, 2026: Framework agreement on space-industry cooperation signed in Antalya.
2026: Türkiye hosts the International Astronautical Congress.
Second half of 2027: TDT-SAT scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
2028: Uzbekistan scheduled to host the International Astronautical Congress.
Roadmap
The Ankara Declaration places greater emphasis on space and aviation than the earlier Gabala Declaration, marking a deliberate reordering of the bloc's priorities. The TDT-SAT 12U CubeSat, now past its production phase, gives that shift a concrete hardware program to measure progress against.
For the broader public, the near-term effect is limited to the emergence of new joint satellite and aviation projects rather than services available now. Researchers and students may see new exchange and training opportunities through programs such as the Turkish Space Agency's Space Explorers camp.
The takeaway
Coordinated regional programs like the Turkic states' framework show how shared goals can turn into concrete missions over several years. Watching milestones such as the TDT-SAT launch will show whether the declaration's space priorities translate into results.
What happens next
TDT-SAT is scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the second half of 2027, and Uzbekistan will host the International Astronautical Congress in 2028.
Further reading
Explore more on Space developments shaping international cooperation.
Live Poll
Should your country spend more public money on space and science programs?
