Stages and trends of the development of the scientific and legal doctrine regarding the use of remote sensing of the Earth

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the stages of formation and development of the scientific and legal doctrine regarding the use of Earth remote sensing (ERS). It is determined that ERS, as a technology for observing the Earth’s surface and atmosphere using sensor systems placed on satellites, aircraft, or other aerial platforms, has become one of the key tools of modern science, economy, and governance. Along with technological progress, the need arose for legal understanding of this new activity, which led to the formation of the doctrine in several successive stages. The first stage (1950s–1970s) was, characterized by the emergence of research and discussions on the admissibility of ERS in light of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. The second stage (1980s) marked the institutional recognition of ERS as a separate legal issue and the adoption of the 1986 UN Principles, which established the basic rules of state conduct. The third stage (1990s–2000s) reflected the process of commercialization and privatization of space programs, which brought to the forefront issues of intellectual property, international trade in data, and the protection of states’ strategic interests. The fourth stage (2010s–2020s) is, characterized by multidimensionality and integration: combining ecological, commercial, and security dimensions, harmonizing national and international legal regimes, and searching for new regulatory models. The study employs historical-legal, comparative-legal, and systemic methods, which made it possible to trace the evolution of the doctrine from the general principles of space law to specialized norms of international and national regulation. Particular attention is, paid to the contribution of international and Ukrainian scholars who developed the concepts of “global public interest” and “information sovereignty,” as well as proposed models for harmonizing legislation. The article aims to outline the key trends in the development of legal support for ERS, identify problems and contradictions that remain relevant, and determine the prospects for forming a comprehensive model of sustainable legal regulation in this field.