Russia has developed a new version of the Progress M1 freighter spacecraft to deliver extra fuel to Mir in place of cargo. This will double the propellant load on Mir, giving it enough fuel to make a controlled crash maneuver next April, landing in the Pacific Ocean. The Russians continue to hope against hope that funding will be found to keep Mir in orbit.--Stephen V Cole

Russia says that the Service Module for the International Space Station, originally due for launch in April 98 and most recently set for early January 2000, has now been pushed back into February due to problems with Russian funding and management.--Stephen V Cole