Історія міжнародно-правового регулювання дистанційного зондування землі з космосу для мирних потреб

The modern development of society is inextricably linked to access to information about its existence: recent discoveries, the current state of objects or spaces, existing threats, etc. For this reason, humanity is constantly searching for new means to ensure access to information. One of the most influential informational tools today is remote sensing of the Earth from space. In this regard, there is a need to study the legal framework for this tool at all levels of legal regulation. This paper is dedicated to the international legal regulation of this phenomenon for the peaceful needs of humanity. The research is based on the fact that remote sensing of the Earth from space can be used for both peaceful and military purposes. The article examines the history of formation and development of legal regulation of remote sensing of the Earth from space as an element of international space law. The author distinguishes 3 stages of its formation: 1) 1959–1977 – development and adoption of 5 major UN international treaties on outer space, the rules and principles of which form the basis for further regulation of remote sensing; 2) 1978– 2003 – establishment and development of international legal regulation of remote sensing activities; 3) 2004 – present – expansion and deepening of the scope of application of legal guidelines on remote sensing, shifting the focus of regulation to the national level. It was found that for peaceful purposes, remote sensing of the Earth from space, at the international level, began to be used since 1959 - from the date of establishment of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). It was established that the understanding of «use of remote sensing of the Earth from space for peaceful purposes» includes the implementation of such activities for the needs of environmental monitoring, rational use of the Earth’s natural resources, weather and climate forecasting, for the health sector, for mitigating the consequences and preventing emergencies of a technogenic and natural nature and providing assistance in this regard. It is established that the peculiarity of the second stage of development of international legal regulation of remote sensing for peaceful purposes was the development of a set of principles of remote sensing activities which were planned to form the basis of a special instrument of international space law – the UN International Convention on Remote Sensing of the Earth from Space. However, since this idea has not yet been implemented, it is concluded that the legal regulation of remote sensing at the international level is still in its infancy. The third stage of development of remote sensing, from the point of view of international legal regulation, is defined as not as active as the previous two, however, it is characterized by a significant deepening of knowledge regarding the implementation of remote sensing, improvement of technologies for its implementation, as well as expansion of the scope of application and development of legislation of individual states on this issue.