Space research and the new approach to the mechanics of fluid media in cosmos

Space research has increased knowledge of fluid media in space in two ways. 1. It has made it possible to 'see' the cosmic environment not only in visual light and radio waves but also in infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays. The picture obtained is drastically different from the pre-space-age view. One of the results is that (at least by volume) the cosmic environment consists to more than 99% of magnetized, often dusty, plasma. 2. In situ measurements in the magnetospheres - including heliosphere - combined with laboratory experiments have given new information about the properties of cosmic plasmas. This makes it possible to understand what we see. It turns out that a drastic revision of the classical theory of plasma is necessary. 3. The new results are applied to cosmogony (origin and evolutionary history of the solar system). Magnetospheric physics has matured to such an extent that it is possible to treat certain aspects of cosmogony as an extrapolation of magnetospheric physics. It is shown that certain events 4-5 billion years ago can be reconstructed with an accuracy of a few percent. (Auth.)