In introducing the translated Russian article which follows, the author provides background information on the Soviet “Orbital Space Station Earth Observations Project,”; comparing it with the American “Space Shuttle Earth Observations Project.”; He also provides details on the cameras used by the Soviet cosmonauts, comparing them with American models. One of the major foci of the Soviet program is the monitoring of glaciers on a global basis, one area where it has made a significant contribution being the ice caps of the Southern Andes. In conclusion the author surveys planned initiatives by both the Soviet Union and the United States in the area of remote sensing of the world's glaciers.