State Sovereignty and Use of Outer Space for Applied Purposes

In the now commonplace phrase "exploration and utilization" of outer space, the emphasis is increasingly being placed on the second term, "utilization." This is no denigration of the role of basic research in space, which will continue to occupy a place of the highest importance in clarifying the true picture and laws of the world around us. It is a totally justified attempt to compel space to serve man as soon as possible and to assist in solving many terrestrial problems. Communications, meteorology, navigation, the study and protection of terrestrial resources and of the environment - these are the principal spheres of human economic activity, which today are already inconceivable without utilization of the resources of space technology.