Space agencies bicker over delayed launch

ALMATY, Kazakhstan: The delay of a rocket launch from a Russian-leased launch pad in southern Kazakhstan sparked a testy exchange yesterday between the two ex-Soviet nations' space authorities.

A European communications satellite, EutelSat-W7, was due to blast off atop a Proton rocket from the Baikonur launch facility on Monday, but was delayed over repeated changes in schedule by Russian space officials, the national space agency of Kazakhstan, Kazcosmos, said in a statement on its website.

Kazakh space authorities complain that Russia has failed to respect an accord that lays down conditions of use for Baikonur, which state that Russia has to provide a full annual launch schedule by November for the next year.