Committee on Space Research

The Committee on Space Research, widely known as COSPAR, is an international scientific organization established on October 3, 1958 by the International Council of Scientific Unions, the predecessor of today’s International Science Council. It was created during the early space age to provide a neutral forum in which scientists from different countries could exchange findings, discuss technical and scientific problems, and coordinate research beyond national and political boundaries. Its first chair was Hildegard Korf Kallmann-Bijl. COSPAR is not a spacecraft manufacturer, launch provider, commercial space operator, or government space agency. Its role is primarily convening, advisory, publishing, and standards-oriented. The organization brings together researchers through scientific assemblies, symposia, commissions, panels, working groups, publications, and research programs. Its subject matter spans Earth observation, meteorology and climate, the Earth-Moon system, planetary science, upper atmospheres, ionospheres, space plasmas, astrophysics, life sciences, materials science, and fundamental physics. One of COSPAR’s most visible activities is its General Assembly, also called the Scientific Assembly. From 1958 through 1979, these meetings were held annually; from 1980 onward, they have generally been organized every two years. The assemblies provide a large international meeting place for space researchers and have attracted participants from more than 50 countries. They combine formal scientific sessions with commission meetings, panel work, training, and professional exchange. Two assemblies identified in the organization’s historical record were cancelled: the 2016 meeting planned for Istanbul was cancelled after the attempted coup in Turkey, and the 2020 meeting planned for Sydney was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. COSPAR also maintains long-running scientific reference programs. Its International Reference Atmosphere work began in 1960 and has produced successive editions of the COSPAR International Reference Atmosphere, commonly known as CIRA, for modeling the upper atmosphere. Another major program is the International Reference Ionosphere, or IRI, developed through a joint URSI-COSPAR working group. The first IRI edition appeared in 1978, and the model has continued to be updated. A particularly influential area of COSPAR’s work is planetary protection. In 1958, the International Council of Scientific Unions created an ad hoc Committee on Contamination by Extraterrestrial Exploration, known as CETEX. In 1959, responsibility for this subject was transferred to COSPAR. Over subsequent decades, COSPAR developed guidance concerning the prevention of harmful biological and organic contamination between Earth and other celestial bodies. Its Planetary Protection Policy is intended to support implementation of Article IX of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. The policy is an internationally agreed scientific and technical standard rather than a directly binding international law instrument; states remain responsible for authorizing and supervising space activities under the treaty framework. An updated policy was published in August 2020 after review by the COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection and approval by the COSPAR Bureau. COSPAR’s scientific structure is organized into commissions and specialist panels. Its commissions cover Earth systems, planetary and lunar science, atmospheres and aeronomy, space plasmas, astrophysics, space-related life sciences, materials science, and fundamental physics. Panels address topics such as satellite dynamics, scientific ballooning, environmentally detrimental activities in space, radiation belts, space weather, planetary protection, capacity building, education, exploration, interstellar research, small-satellite constellations, social sciences and humanities, and innovative solutions. Through this structure, COSPAR functions as a global coordination and knowledge-sharing platform for the space-science community.

COSPAR was established on October 3, 1958, by the International Council of Scientific Unions during the formative period of space exploration. The organization’s creation reflected the need for an international scientific forum capable of maintaining communication across national boundaries as satellites and space probes began producing new data. Hildegard Korf Kallmann-Bijl served as its first chair. From the beginning, COSPAR emphasized the free exchange of scientific results, information, and opinions, together with open discussion of problems affecting space research. The organization initially used annual General Assemblies to bring the international research community together. This annual schedule continued through 1979. From 1980, the assembly became a biennial event, allowing more time for the expanding research programs and increasingly specialized scientific commissions. The meetings grew into major international gatherings, combining presentations, working sessions, commission activities, and opportunities for collaboration among scientists, institutions, and national space communities. COSPAR’s programmatic work expanded alongside the growth of space science. In 1960, it began its International Reference Atmosphere project. The project generated successive editions of the COSPAR International Reference Atmosphere, or CIRA, a reference model used in scientific and technical work involving the high atmosphere. COSPAR also supported the development of the International Reference Ionosphere through a joint working group with the International Union of Radio Science. The first IRI edition was published in 1978, and the model has been maintained through continuing updates. Planetary protection became another lasting part of COSPAR’s institutional history. The International Council of Scientific Unions had established the ad hoc Committee on Contamination by Extraterrestrial Exploration in 1958 to consider how missions might contaminate other celestial bodies or compromise future scientific investigations. In 1959, that responsibility was transferred to COSPAR. The organization subsequently provided an interdisciplinary setting for discussions that moved from the language of planetary quarantine toward the modern concept of planetary protection. COSPAR’s planetary protection work eventually produced a policy and associated implementation requirements intended to reduce the risk of harmful biological and organic contamination during interplanetary exploration. The policy also serves as a scientific and technical guide for addressing Article IX of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. It is not itself legally binding under international law. Instead, it is an internationally agreed standard whose implementation depends on national authorities and the responsibilities assigned to states under the treaty. Policy revisions are developed through the Planetary Protection Panel, with participation from relevant national or international authorities and COSPAR scientific commissions, before review and approval by the COSPAR Bureau. Over time, COSPAR developed a broad scientific structure. Its commissions address Earth observation and climate, planetary and lunar systems, atmospheres and aeronomy, space plasmas, astrophysics, space life sciences, materials science, and fundamental physics. Panels and task groups extend this work into satellite dynamics, ballooning, space weather, radiation environments, planetary protection, exploration, education, capacity building, small satellites, interstellar research, and related subjects. The organization’s meeting history also reflects external events affecting international scientific cooperation. The 41st General Assembly, planned for Istanbul in 2016, was cancelled following the attempted coup in Turkey. The 43rd assembly, planned for Sydney in 2020, was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these disruptions, COSPAR has remained an active international platform for space-science communication, coordination, publication, and technical consensus-building.

• 2020

  Sydney General Assembly cancelled

  [1]Committee on Space Researchen.wikipedia.org

  The 43rd General Assembly planned for Sydney was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 2020

  Planetary Protection Policy updated

  [1]Committee on Space Researchen.wikipedia.org

  COSPAR published an updated planetary protection policy in the August 2020 issue of Space Research Today.

• 2016

  Istanbul General Assembly cancelled

  [1]Committee on Space Researchen.wikipedia.org

  The 41st General Assembly was cancelled following the attempted coup in Turkey.

• 1980

  General Assembly schedule becomes biennial

  [1]Committee on Space Researchen.wikipedia.org

  After two decades of annual meetings, COSPAR began holding its General Assembly every two years.

• 1978

  First International Reference Ionosphere edition

  [1]Committee on Space Researchen.wikipedia.org

  The first edition of the International Reference Ionosphere was produced by the joint URSI-COSPAR working group.

• 1960

  International Reference Atmosphere project begins

  [1]Committee on Space Researchen.wikipedia.org

  COSPAR began its long-running International Reference Atmosphere project, later producing successive CIRA models.

• 1959

  Planetary contamination work transferred to COSPAR

  [1]Committee on Space Researchen.wikipedia.org

  Responsibility for work previously undertaken by the Committee on Contamination by Extraterrestrial Exploration was transferred to COSPAR.

• 1958

  COSPAR established

  [1]Committee on Space Researchen.wikipedia.org

  The International Council of Scientific Unions established the Committee on Space Research on October 3, 1958. Hildegard Korf Kallmann-Bijl became its first chair.

An independent, international, scientist-led forum for space research coordination, knowledge exchange, scientific meetings, and internationally recognized technical guidance.

• Scientific conference · 1958

  COSPAR General Assembly

  COSPAR’s principal international scientific meeting brings together space researchers for presentations, technical sessions, commission meetings, and collaborative discussion. The assembly has been held on a biennial basis since 1980 and covers the organization’s full range of scientific commissions and specialist panels.

• Scientific model · 1960

  COSPAR International Reference Atmosphere (CIRA)

  CIRA is COSPAR’s long-running reference-atmosphere program. It provides successive model editions for scientific and technical study of the high atmosphere and forms part of the organization’s enduring contribution to shared space-science infrastructure.

• Scientific model · 1978

  International Reference Ionosphere (IRI)

  IRI is an internationally maintained model of the ionosphere developed through a joint URSI-COSPAR working group. Its first edition appeared in 1978, and the model has continued to receive updates.

• International scientific guidance

  COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy

  The policy provides internationally agreed scientific and technical guidance for reducing biological and organic contamination between Earth and other celestial bodies. It supports implementation of Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty but is not itself legally binding international law.

• Scientific publication

  Space Research Today

  Space Research Today is a COSPAR publication used to communicate scientific, organizational, and policy material, including the updated Planetary Protection Policy published in August 2020.

• 2020

  Approve an updated planetary protection policyOther

  Background

  COSPAR periodically reviews its planetary protection guidance in response to scientific developments and requests from relevant authorities.

  Action taken

  Recommendations from the Planetary Protection Panel were reviewed and approved by the COSPAR Bureau, and the revised policy was published in Space Research Today in August 2020.

  Aftermath

  The revision continued COSPAR’s role as a source of internationally agreed technical guidance for planetary protection and Outer Space Treaty compliance.

  Source

• 1980

  Move the General Assembly to a biennial scheduleStrategy

  Background

  COSPAR had held its General Assembly annually from 1958 through 1979 as the international space-science community expanded.

  Action taken

  Beginning in 1980, COSPAR adopted a two-year cycle for its General Assembly.

  Aftermath

  The biennial assembly became the organization’s regular large-scale international scientific meeting format.

  Source

• 1959

  Accept responsibility for planetary contamination and protection discussionsStrategy

  Background

  The International Council of Scientific Unions had created the Committee on Contamination by Extraterrestrial Exploration in 1958 to consider contamination risks associated with space exploration.

  Action taken

  Responsibility for this subject was transferred to COSPAR, which continued the work through an international scientific and policy forum.

  Aftermath

  The transfer established planetary protection as a continuing area of COSPAR activity and eventually led to the organization’s planetary protection policy.

  Source

1. 1Committee on Space Researchen.wikipedia.org
2. 2COSPAR official websitecosparhq.cnes.fr