Charles Hanin received his doctorate in law from the University of Luxembourg in 1936. After playing an important role in local politics, he was elected to Parliament in 1958 and then to the Senate in 1965. He was president of the Christian Democratic Group at the Council of Europe in 1979. At home Hanin held various portfolios, e.g. Minister of the Middle Classes (1968-1972), of French Culture (1972-1973), of the Interior (1974) and of Science Policy (1973-1974). It was in this last capacity that he chaired the conclusive meeting of the European Space Conference on 31 July, 1973 in Brussels, where he was mainly responsible for its success.