The rapid expansion of the space sciences and the penetration of cosmic topics into the "earthbound" sciences must ultimately cause qualitative changes in the relationship between the cosmic and the terrestrial branches of science. The space sciences constitute at present extensions of the terrestrial ones, but this situation will eventually be reversed. Thus, for instance, as soon as the structures of some of the planets have been inves tigated, at least within the solar system, and as our knowledge on the nature of the planets expands, geological science as we know it will probably become a subsidiary discipline. Now, obviously, some "ologies" (e. g. , selenology, .areology, Venusian geology) form the backbone of astrogeology or planetology, which studies the laws governing the geological development of the planets. When such laws have been established, considerable refine ment will be brought into the terrestrial science of geology, as generaliza tions will be founded not only on the investigation of a single object, i. e. , our planet, but on a much broader factual basis. Astrogeology will then no longer be just some exotic application in the existing complex of geologic disciplines, but on the contrary, will include the geology of the Earth as a part, or specialized department (together with other specialities, such as selenology, areology, etc.). The same applies to many other natural sciences.
We are thus witnessing a scientific-technological revolution of great magnitude, in which the pure and applied sciences are divesting themselves of their terrestrial bias and adopting a cosmic outlook. In contrast to the natural science of the prehistorical period, the science of the historical period will be essentially space-orientated—a cosmic science. A major landmark in the expansion of scientific research into space was the inception of applied astronautics.
We cannot, however, content ourselves merely with reflecting on the fact that science is emerging into space. History never does anything without good reasons. Now such a major event as the orientation of natural science toward space must be due to powerful causes. It is important to contem plate these not only in their basic, theoretical aspect, but also from a practical angle, as this makes it possible to predict to a certain extent the course of development of science and technology and to control the process better. In the present paper this question can be dealt with only briefly and in broad outline.
It is a known fact that science is not something self-contained and an end in itself, but is intimately connected with practice and exists, in the last analysis, for practical purposes. Practice is founded on man's productivity and his relationship with nature, the two being actually inseparably linked. Science meets the demands of practice, and reflects its development and tendencies. Now as analysis shows, human practical affairs, primarily in
the domain of industry and in the control of nature, have lately begun to show a distinctly cosmic slant.
The interaction of society with nature (and accordingly, the development of production) always proceeds along four basic lines. There is first of all the process of harnessing natural forces, reflected in the advance of power engineering. In the second place we have the conversion of matter of a given nature, as embodied by the development of mining, metallurgy, chemical engineering, the structural materials industry, and some other techniques. Then we have the processing of living nature (including the eventual artificial synthesis of foodstuffs), exemplified by agriculture and some other branches of production. Lastly, man is also progressing in the control of his own nature, specifically in the form of the extensive practical application of medicine and physiological research to various aspects of human activity. The cosmic trend of the changes now taking place in practice is for the time being most clearly visible in the first two directions, but it is beginning to show first signs in the others as well.
Thus, man is increasingly putting to use forces of a cosmic character. Nuclear and especially thermonuclear power engineering is a good example of the harnessing and utilization by industry of phenomena that are not proper to an ordinary, strictly terrestrial environment, but are quite com mon in outer space. This is also true for the projects of magnetohydrody namic electric-power stations, the efforts to produce plasma jet engines, etc.
The industry of transuranic and other artificial chemical elements and isotopes is also in a sense space-orientated, as these substances are not found on Earth and it is only recently that some of them have been detected in the envelopes of stars. Let us stress that what we have in mind is the industrial, and not laboratory, derivation of technetium, plutonium, and scores of radioactive isotopes from raw material available on Earth.
Also of a cosmic nature are many processes of radiation chemistry and physics, of which increasing use is being made in many technologies. Vacuum techniques are being introduced in metallurgy. A great variety of branches are developing in industry and engineering which would be impos sible without extremely low temperatures, etc. Accordingly, many production and technological processes as well as new technical equipment and instru ments are beginning to rely increasingly upon the artificial reproduction and practical application of conditions, factors, and phenomena (or their components) which are common in space. Engineering and industry are becoming space-orientated, but it is happening on Earth and not in free space.