The Origin and Aims of COSPAR
The COmmittee on SPAce Research (COSPAR) was established by the International Council of Scientific
Unions in October 1958 to continue the cooperative programmes of rocket and satellite research successfully undertaken during the International
Geophysical Year of 1957-58. The ICSU resolution creating COSPAR stated that the primary purpose of COSPAR was to "provide the world
scientific community with the means whereby it may exploit the possibilities of satellites and space probes of all kinds for scientific
purposes, and exchange the resulting data on a cooperative basis". Hence, COSPAR is an interdisciplinary scientific organization concerned
with progress on an international scale of all kinds of scientific investigations carried out with space vehicles, rockets and balloons.
COSPAR's objectives are carried out by the international community of scientists working through ICSU and its adhering national
academies and international scientific unions. Operating under the rules of ICSU, COSPAR ignores political considerations and considers
all questions solely from the scientific viewpoint.
The COSPAR Information Bulletin has been published since 1960. The Bulletin addresses not only researchers connected with COSPAR but also other scientists and the lay public active or interested
in the latest developments in scientific space activities. Occasionally a guest editorial, invited article or a space image of interest
to the community will be included. Its contents include the following regular items related to space research:
• News from COSPAR
• Information on future meetings
• Scientific space mission news
• Survey of satellites and space probes
• News from space organizations
• International Geophysical Calendar (published in the December issue)
• Articles
and Reports
• Information on publications
