Current Trends in the Development of Astronautics in the Context of Shaping Russia’s Technological Sovereignty

The present research analyzes the key trends in the development of astronautics in the light of international political and legal and scientific and technical dimensions. The technical trends were compared with the corresponding reaction of international institutions and the emergence of new agenda items and topics for discussion in these institutions. An interrelation has been revealed between the discussion of issues of mega-constellations, Moon exploration initiated at the site of the United Nations Committee on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) as well as the problem of medical and technical support for long-term manned missions, and patent activity on the introduction of applied space technologies. To achieve this goal, the agenda items of the scientific and technical and legal subcommittees of COPUOS were studied in detail, as well as a patent analysis of publications in the cosmonautics field was conducted. The study cites the achievements of the Russian Federation in the identified trends, which confirms the great potential of the Russian cosmonautics and the ability to follow global trends. In a number of cases, innovative solutions from Russia are cited, describing a unique approach to the exploration and use of outer space. The totality of the trends considered and the consideration of existing factors makes it possible to predict the successful development of Russian cosmonautics and the formation of technological sovereignty, which makes it possible to implement breakthrough initiatives.