RUSSIA WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE SPACE STATION.

A Russian space agency official said yesterday that Russia will continue to operate the troubled Mir station regardless of whether the U.S. decides to send a replacement for Michael Foale, currently manning the station with two Russian cosmonauts. The head of the U.S. space agency, Daniel Goldin, who departed from Moscow yesterday, has not yet made a decision on the matter. A U.S. expert — former astronaut Thomas Stafford — has recommended that the U.S. send the replacement. The shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to blast off tonight and to dock with Mir on Saturday. (Reuter, September 24; AP, September 25)

Japan, Russia Anticipate Improved Ties.