Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems

Abstract

The major space agencies of the world recognize that there are benefits in using standard techniques for handling space data and that, by cooperatively developing these techniques, future data system interoperability will be enhanced. In order to assure that work towards standardization of space-related information technologies provides the maximum benefi t for the interested agencies, both individually and collectively, an international Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) was established in 1982 as a forum for international cooperation in the development of data handling techniques supporting space research, including space science and applications. In 1991, the committee was incorporated as a subcommittee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The article describs the work of CCSDS till its beginning in the 80s till today (2009).