Soviet space officials have told Americans that they hope the experience will be a model for cooperation on future planetary flights.

Russian space officials had been saying, in effect, show us the money.

But two other milestones are more on the minds of space officials and scientists.

It is not certain if the ministers will make a full commitment at the time to all the programs, space officials and aerospace executives said.

The postponement of the launching today was clearly a disappointment to Soviet space officials.

Another spacewalk will be carried out early next month, Russian space officials said.

Russian space officials said later that the astronauts had investigated five of seven possible areas where the point might be located.

Scientists and space officials say that plans become much less firm beyond 2005.

Russian and American space officials do not rule out the worst-case scenario.

But Soviet space officials said yesterday that they should be able to regain control in three to four weeks.