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:

1. To discuss, formulate and coordinate internationally cooperative experimental investigations in space,
2. To encourage interactions between experimenters and theoreticians, in order to maximize space science results, especially interpretation arising out of analyses of the observations,
3. To stimulate and coordinate the exchange of scientific results,
4. 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,
5. To carry out these tasks in the closest possible association with other organizations interested in these and related tasks,
6. To prepare a brief report on the open business meeting for presentation to the Council,
7. 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