Actually, the changes occurring in science in the process of its cosmiza tion defy classification due to their complexity. All the same, we must by no means dismiss the possibility of gaining some insight from them. To sum up, we note an additional new significant trend toward the cosmization of natural science, which has appeared in the last 100 years and taken shape in the gradual formation of various space sciences (pertaining to space either directly or by implication).
The three trends mentioned above (i. e. , the transformation of astronomy into a truly cosmic science, the penetration of cosmic subjects into classical and modern science, and the appearance of "purely" cosmic scientific disciplines) could be expected to contribute toward a fourth trend, as indeed they have. This trend has been an increasingly closer association and even an interweaving of the astronomical discipline with the other branches of natural science, a convergence of the whole complex of astronomical science with the other scientific fields. Back in 1932, Academician V.I. Vernadskii made the prophetic statement that "atomic physics and chemistry have unexpectedly proved of fundamental importance in cosmic and cosmogonic processes". On the other hand, as J. D. Bernal has written: "astrophysics and cosmology ... are beginning to impinge on the very core of high-energy physics, and if the potentialities of the Earth are to be fully exploited ... these sciences will undoubtedly have to be applied in geophysics and geochemistry". Likewise, it is a familiar fact that astrophysics, cosmogony, and the physics of the "elementary" particles are intimately linked; there are cases when it is hard to tell where particle physics ends and astronomy begins.
Since natural science has turned toward space over an ever-increasing range of subjects—from mathematics and mechanics to biology and medicine —a demand has been created for new tools of investigation, which would provide the means of studying directly cosmic objects, phenomena, and processes. The indirect techniques, while basically retaining their value, were no longer accurate or comprehensive enough to keep up with the advances in space science (and thus in terrestrial science as well, which is, in the last analysis, only a specialized branch of cosmic science). In other words, after science had launched itself into space, its creator, man himself, was bound to follow. Since scientists have begun to ask new questions, the need for new answers has arisen accordingly. These answers can be supplied by applied astronautics, which offers scientists the possibility of carrying out research directly in space.
Thus, the way to the launching of the first satellites and space rockets was paved by the whole development of natural science, and primarily by its space orientation (the social aspect is not considered here). At the same time the appearance of applied astronautics denotes a highly significant qualitative jump in scientific progress and marks a definite frontier in the history of science. The advances of science toward space noted up to this frontier may be considered only as some preliminary or preparatory stage. With the emergence of scientific instruments, as well as the researcher himself, into space came an intensive process of cosmization of the whole body of science, which is now proceeding at an accelerated pace. A direct transition is under way, from the predominantly geocentric natural science of prehistory toward the cosmic natural science of the future, i. e. , toward the science of the period of true history of mankind. We are, of course, just standing at the beginning of all this and we still have a long way to go. But the fact that we are moving in this direction is obvious from the way things are going at present. During the short time since 4 October 1957, the basic trend toward the cosmization of natural science has not only rapidly evolved and led to considerable achievements, but has even become one of the significant features of modern science. In the course of a few years more ground has been covered than during all of the last century.
The complex of astronomical sciences is also in the process of rapid evolution and qualitative transformation. Applied astronautics has already led to the creation and quick development of far-ultraviolet and gamma-ray astronomy, which would not be possible without launching scientific ments into space. Neutrino astronomy has also become a subject of topical interest. Further extensive developments are expected in phototelevision investigations, whose first spectacular achievement was the photographing of the reverse side of the Moon. The launching of basic equipment of optical and radio astronomy into space will give a fresh impetus to all the main astronomical sciences. The first artificial satellites of the celestial bodies, and particularly automatic stations on their surfaces, will (many scientists hope) result in a whole series of new astronomical fields, or new depart ments within already existing sciences, such as selenophysics, selenology, selenochemistry, areophysics, areology, areochemistry, etc.