Abstract for Sciops 2013 Payload Operation Centers for scientific projects at CNES Toulouse : how the COMS facility can enhance the operating efficiency Co-authors : Jean-Bernard Dubois, Vivian Lafaille, CNES (Toulouse, France) Among space missions devoted to Universe sciences in which CNES, the French Space Agency, supports scientific instrumental contributions, several require an involvement during the complete operational life of the mission through a dedicated operation centre. This kind of centre can comply with various requirements and interfaces, according to the mission characteristics and to the way the project is organized. In all cases, the goal is to handle the technical and operational engineering tasks in order to unload scientists and give them support for data investigation and instrument performance.. Basically, the implemented functions are instrument monitoring and programming, operations planning, data calibration and stacking, on-line publishing, etc… Inside Toulouse Space Centre, the COMS ( for Centre d’Operations des Missions Scientifiques) hosts several payload operation centres within a common facility which allows them to share not only material but also human resources. Moreover, the experience gained from operations in the frame of international cooperation improves the professional level of the staff and can be used in the development phases of the following projects. After a short recall of the involved missions, as well the ones presently in operation (Corot, T2L2, MSL, Rosetta) as those in preparation (Gaia, Insight, Microscope), the presentation will list and compare the different functions of the payload operation centres. These functions can be classified in three main categories: instrument monitoring and programming, data processing, diffusion and archiving. For each one, common tools exist and can be adapted to each case. The presentation will focus on the commonality between the various needs of the payload operation centres, will show how they are taken into account, and will conclude on the way the COMS reduces operational constraints for the scientists and costs for the global mission.