The European Space Sciences Committee, established in 1975, grew out of the need for a collaborative effort that would ensure European space scientists made their voices heard on the other side of the Atlantic, in an era when successive Apollo and space science missions had thrust the idea of space exploration into the collective conscious for the first time.  

The ESSC remains just as relevant today as it acts as an interface with the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission, national space agencies, and ESF Member Organisations on space-related aspects.  

The mission of the ESSC is to provide an independent European voice on European space research and policy. It is the ESF’s Strategic Board on space research.

The ESSC has published in March 2007 its Strategic Plan 2007-2010.