The 5th Meeting of the Heads of Space Agencies of the Organization of Turkic States, held in Tashkent on 30 March 2026 with the participation of OTS Secretary General Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev, confirmed that space has become one of the most dynamic areas of scientific and technological cooperation in the Turkic world – with education at its core.

The meeting reviewed manufacturing progress and launch preparations for the 12U OTS-SAT Cube Satellite, the flagship joint innovation project of the Turkic states. Days later, the OTS announced that the nanosatellite – designed to support Earth observation, in-orbit technology demonstration and the development of joint space capabilities – had reached its final manufacturing stage and was approaching launch. Participants also worked to finalize the draft Space Industrial Agreement for Capacity Development of Collaboration within the OTS.

Significantly for the academic community, the agenda devoted particular attention to cooperation in education and capacity-building. The heads of agencies discussed the development of the Turkic Space Explorers Academy, which already engages more than 170 students from across the member states, as well as the organization of “Turkic World Space Days” at international events. “Cooperation in the space area has become an important pillar of integration within the Turkic World,” the Secretary General stated.

The Turkic world's first joint satellite is more than an engineering milestone: it is a demonstration that the region's states can pool scientific talent, industrial capacity and research infrastructure around a shared high-technology goal. For TURKUNIB member universities – particularly their engineering, physics and information technology faculties – the expanding space agenda opens avenues for joint research, student engagement in real missions, and participation in the capacity-building programmes now being institutionalized across the Turkic states.

Photo: Organization of Turkic States (turkicstates.org)

Photo: Organization of Turkic States (turkicstates.org)

Photo: Organization of Turkic States (turkicstates.org)

Based on official OTS reporting: 5th Meeting of the Heads of Space Agencies of the OTS held in Tashkent