MORE DIFFICULTIES FOR RUSSIA’S SPACE PROGRAM.

In yet another indication of the problems besetting Russia’s space program, a space agency spokesman said yesterday that Moscow might have to postpone a planned July 22 launch of food and fuel supplies to two Russians and an American aboard the space station Mir. The spokesman blamed the delay on a still uncompleted investigation into the recent failures of two Soyuz booster rockets. Last month Russia’s space agency announced that financial difficulties would compel the two Russian cosmonauts on Mir to remain there for an extra forty days. The spokesman said there were sufficient supplies on the station to last until the new August 30 return date. American astronaut Shannon Lucid is to return to earth aboard the Shuttle Discovery earlier in August. (Reuter, July 1)

Kuchma Praises New Constitution.