Two primary types of scientific body are active in COSPAR: Scientific Commissions and Panels. The rules governing these bodies are contained in the COSPAR By-Laws. In certain cases, the Bureau or the Scientific Commissions set up Sub-Commissions or Task Groups to address specific topics of scientific interest to Associates.
The general responsibilities of Scientific Commissions and Panels include, but are not limited to, the following:
- To discuss, formulate and coordinate internationally cooperative experimental investigations in space,
- To encourage interactions between experimenters and theoreticians, in order to maximize space science results, especially interpretation arising out of analyses of the observations,
- To stimulate and coordinate the exchange of scientific results,
- To plan scientific events at the biennial Assemblies where discussions will be held concerning the results of recent space research, with an appropriate mixture of review and contributed papers,
- To carry out these tasks in the closest possible association with other organizations interested in these and related tasks,
- To prepare a brief report on the open business meeting for presentation to the Council,
- To communicate regularly with COSPAR Associates through contributions, scientific or otherwise, to Space Research Today, COSPAR’s information bulletin. Deadlines: 1 February for the April issue, 1 June for the August issue, 1 October for the December issue.
Scientific Commission officers are elected by COSPAR Associates present at the open business meetings held during Assemblies.
Overview Of Current COSPAR Scientific Structure
| Commission A |
Space Studies of the Earth’s Surface, Meteorology and Climate |
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- Task Group on GEO (TG GEO)
- Sub-Commission A1 on Atmosphere (incl. Troposphere and Stratosphere), Meteorology and Climate
- Sub-Commission A2 on Ocean Dynamics and Productivity
- Sub-Commission A3 on Land Processes and Morphology
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| Commission B |
Space Studies of the Earth-Moon System, Planets, and Small Bodies of the Solar System |
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- Sub-Commission B1 on Space Related Studies of Small Bodies
- Sub-Commission B2 on International Coordination of Space Techniques for Geodesy, joint with IUGG/IAG Commission I on Reference Frames
- Sub-Commission B3 on the Moon
- Sub-Commission B4 on Terrestrial Planets
- Sub-Commission B5 on Outer Planets and Satellites
- Sub-Commission B6/E4 on Exoplanets
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| Commission C |
Space Studies of the Upper Atmospheres of the Earth and Planets Including Reference Atmospheres |
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- Sub-Commission C1 on the Earth’s Upper Atmosphere and Ionosphere
- Sub-Commission C2 on the Earth’s Middle Atmosphere and Lower Ionosphere
- Sub-Commission C3 on Planetary Atmospheres and Aeronomy
- Task Group on Reference Atmospheres of Planets and Satellites (RAPS)
- URSI/COSPAR Task Group on the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI)
- COSPAR/URSI Task Group on Reference Atmospheres, including ISO WG4 (CIRA)
- Sub-Commission C5/D4 on Theory and Observations of Active Experiments
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| Commission D |
Space Plasmas in the Solar System, Including Planetary Magnetospheres |
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- Sub-Commission D1 on the Heliosphere
- Sub-Commission D2/E3 on the Transition from the Sun to the Heliosphere
- Sub-Commission D3 on Magnetospheres
- Sub-Commission C5/D4 on Theory and Observations of Active Experiments
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| Commission E |
Research in Astrophysics from Space |
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- Sub-Commission E1 on Galactic and Extragalactic Astrophysics
- Sub-Commission E2 on the Sun as a Star
- Sub-Commission D2/E3 on the Transition from the Sun to the Heliosphere
- Sub-Commission B6/E4 on Exoplanets
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| Commission F |
Life Sciences as Related to Space |
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- Sub-Commission F1 on Gravitational and Space Biology
- Sub-Commission F2 on Radiation Environment, Biology and Health
- Sub-Commission F3 on Astrobiology
- Sub-Commission F4 on Natural and Artificial Ecosystems
- Sub-Commission F5 on Gravitational Physiology in Space
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| Commission G |
Materials Sciences in Space |
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| Commission H |
Fundamental Physics in Space |
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