Science Advisory Structure

A close relationship between the European Space Agency and the scientific community in Europe is an essential element for the efficient and effective pursuit of the Agency’s scientific objectives. The Agency’s science advisory structure is the main channel for ensuring such a relationship.

The advisory structure includes the Space Science Advisory Committee (SSAC), the Astronomy Working Group (AWG), and the Solar System and Exploration Working Group (SSEWG).

The Space Science Advisory Committee (SSAC) is the senior advisory body to the Director of Science, who is acting as the Director General’s representative on all matters concerning space science included in the mandatory science programme of ESA. SSAC is the main interpreter of the views and needs of the European scientific community as regards access to space experimentation and data exploitation in the mandatory science programme. The SSAC also has the highest-level advisory capacity, through the Director of Science, for matters to be treated at the level of the Science Programme Committee, which may also request advice on particular issues of a scientific nature. The members of SSAC are scientists of international stature, with expertise spanning the relevant disciplines for the programme. They are appointed ad-personam, typically for a term of three years.

The SSAC is primarily supported by the Astronomy Working Group (AWG), which advises on all science matters related to Astronomy, and the Solar System and Exploration Working Group (SSEWG), which advises on all science matters related to Solar System science and exploration, excluding Earth sciences. Other Working Groups, such as the Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Earth Sciences Working Groups, also provide advice on their disciplines and report on matters concerning their specific science areas to the SSAC, as needed. Members of the Working Groups are scientists from Member States with expertise in the specific disciplines covered by the Working Groups. They are appointed ad-personam, typically for a term of three years. The Chairs of AWG and SSEWG are members of SSAC.