The technical fields of NRSCC have been extended from remote sensing and geographic information system to the domain of earth observation and navigation technology, including remote sensing, geographic information system, satellite navigation and positioning, and deep space exploration. Its overall function is to organize and implement national scientific and technological plans in the field of earth observation and navigation technology. It aims at developing innovation capacity of China and fostering the strategic new industry in remote sensing, geographic information system and navigation and positioning. It is characterized by the international cooperation and the national strengths by mode of “condensed kernel, wide network”. NRSCC also provides the technical support to major strategic decisions for the national economic construction, social sustainable development by exerting the advantages of remote sensing science and technology.

As authorized by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2006, main functions of NRSCC are: to provide recommendations and solutions to the development strategy, planning and overall policy decision of remote sensing technology and its industrialization for MOST by studying the status, trends and challenges; to operate the remote sensing services to the General Office of State Council (GOSC) on information about disasters, agriculture, ecology and environment etc.; to implement projects on remote sensing and space information technology under various national R&D programs of China, such as National High Technology Research and Development Program (863 Program), National Key Technology R&D Program and Mega-Projects of Science Research, as trusted by of MOST, and to promote industrialization of relevant results; to organize and coordinate the implementation of China-Europe Cooperation Project on Galileo; to participate in the formulation, assessment and accreditation of related national standards, norms and regulations in earth observation and navigation technology; to promote and organize multilateral and bilateral international cooperation projects, and to organize related training and personnel exchange activities; to act as the contacting point of the China-European GNSS Technology Training and Cooperation Center; to host the China Secretariat of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) , China Secretariat of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), and act as the national focal point of the United Nations Regional Space Applications Program for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific (RESAP); to liaise with remote sensing institutes in China, to provide technical training and consultancy services.