Space IT platforms: challenges of the XXI century

¹ Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251 Polytechnicheskaya st. 29, Russian Federation
² Russia State Scientific Center for Robotics and Technical cybernetics, 194064 Tikhoretsky Prospect 21, Russian Federation

^* Corresponding author: korablev@spbstu.ru

Abstract

More than half a century of man-in-space exploration not only demonstrated the new manufacturing capabilities of the countries involved in the study of distant and near space, but also presented the main challenges that humanity will face in the exploration of the space in the first half of the 21st century. One of these challenges is the rapid growth in a number of satellites used not only by government structures, but also by private sector. This problem gives rise to another one – ensuring the safety of the satellites flights and contamination of the earth orbit by man-made objects. A particular problem is the growing militarization of the space. There is another natural challenge such as a cometary-asteroid hazard. In the near future, humanity has to answer these challenges. This is important for two reasons. Firstly, only overcoming them, we will be able to continue our expansion in the space. And, secondly, only by solving the encountered problems, we will be able to maintain the stability on the Earth. An important factor for a successful response to the challenges is international cooperation in space, which allows combining the resources of space powers including intellectual potential. In this case, we can rely on the soonest achievement of the set goals. Of course, this will mark new frontiers, which will be a challenge for the next generations.