3.2 The COPSAR Panel on Planetary Protection
While Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty provides the overarching legal framework for planetary protection, the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) is at the heart of providing the scientific and technical basis for the implementation.
Activity 3
COSPAR was established over sixty years ago and is dedicated to promoting international science research in space. COSPAR has close links to COPUOS and has been granted observer status. Watch Video 8 that provides an overview of the work of COSPAR. As you watch, take notes on some of its key features and activities, such as:
- how they work with space scientists
- how they work with industry
- how they support emerging space-faring nations
- types of activities they undertake in relation to the use of space.
Answer
COSPAR encompasses 46 national scientific institutions and 13 scientific unions and has a membership of over 13000 space scientists. Through scientific commissions, panels and task groups (as well as publications and events) they develop policies and approaches to using space. This includes technical panels to support the next generation of space scientists in countries with emerging space sectors, to train them to use data collected from space. They also have a Committee on Industry Relations comprising 18 commercial partners and committees addressing topics such as space weather, satellite constellations and planetary protection.
As you will have seen from the video, the COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection plays a significant role within COSPAR. It develops and maintains the COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy, which is an internationally recognised guide for compliance with Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty.
Watch Video 9 to understand more about the role of the COSPAR Planetary Protection Panel from the Panel Chair, Dr Athena Coustenis.
Transcript: Video 9 Dr Athena Coustenis discusses the COPSAR Panel on Planetary Protection
The Panel currently consists of 26 members, which includes 12 representatives from national space agencies, including China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, India, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, the European Space Agency, and nine experts from the international scientific community. The Panel has several ex-officio members from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), and the COSPAR Committee on Industrial Relations.