The Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy is one of the youngest Belgian scientific institutions. Created in 1964, its main tasks are public service and research in the field of the space aeronomy, i.e. tasks that require data knowledge, gathered using ground-based, balloon, rockets and satellites observations within the framework of physics and chemistry of the atmosphere and outer space. That implies the following specific tasks:to collect and place at the disposal of interested parties information on the terrestrial space environment; to develop experimental programs and theories which explain the observations; to implement calculations, measurements and observations allowing control and extension of the existing knowledge. The activities of the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB) offer the national community access to advanced knowledge resulting from the application of space investigation methods.