MILITARIZATION OF OUTER SPACE AS A GLOBAL POLITICAL PROBLEM

The problem of the militarization of outer space is older than astronautics itself. Near-Earth space began to be considered as a potential battlefield about 10 years before the first satellites entered orbit. From the very beginning of the space race, the USSR and the United States began to develop weapons for launching into outer space. Subsequently, with varying success, countries concluded treaties that restricted the deployment of various types of weapons in outer space. However, the withdrawal of only nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction is still prohibited, which allows the use of any other types of weapons. In connection with recent events, namely: the break of the INF Treaty, the creation of the US space force, the creation of a Space Command in the French Air Force, the declaration of space as the fourth sphere of NATO operations, the active space policy of India and China and the growth of tension around the world. It can be noted that there are clear prerequisites for the beginning of a military-space arms race.