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 |  | – 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 |
| Commission B | Space Studies of the Earth-Moon System, Planets, and Small Bodies of the Solar System |  | – 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 |
| Commission C | Space Studies of the Upper Atmospheres of the Earth and Planets Including Reference Atmospheres |  | – 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 |
| Commission D | Space Plasmas in the Solar System, Including Planetary Magnetospheres |  | – 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 |
| Commission E | Research in Astrophysics from Space |  | – 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 |
| Commission F | Life Sciences as Related to Space |  | – 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 |
| Commission G | Materials Sciences in Space |  | No Sub-Commissions |
| Commission H | Fundamental Physics in Space |  | No Sub-Commissions |