With the launch of Sputnik in 1957 and Yuri Gagarin’s space flight in 1961, Russia’s spacefaring marked the dawn of a new age. The era saw treaties that expressed aspirations for international cooperation and the betterment of humankind. In recent decades, though, space technology has often been treated by nations as a tool for gaining national power and status.
Parties to the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty recognised “the common interest of all mankind in the progress of the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes” and declared their belief that “the exploration and use of outer space should be carried on for the benefit of all peoples irrespective of the degree of their economic or scientific development”.
Space technology, including manned technology, has the potential to greatly enhance the development of science and technology in general. In turn, this advancement would not only create wealth and jobs but also contribute to the development of intelligent technology, significantly enhancing human society and our well-being.
