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Astronauts on board Mir are now installing a new guidance system for the
ageing space station. The work should allow the craft to be controlled from the
ground after the crew’s planned departure at the end of August. There were fears
that the delivery might not happen, when Kazakhstan shut its launch site after a
Proton rocket exploded earlier this month. Protons remain grounded, but launches
of the Progress vessels that supply Mir were allowed after Russia promised to
pay $115 million in overdue rent.