From 1976 to 1981 astronomy related questions were handled by the Standing Committee on Astronomy, and after 1981 by the Standing Committee on Space Science.
The Committee was primarily concerned with the US-European Space Telescope project, but also actively cooperating in the discussions leading up to the establishment of the Canary Islands Astrophysical Institute, set up in 1975 by the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (SCIC).
The first meeting of the European Science Foundation ad hoc Committee on Astronomy was in Paris on 23 April 1976.

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