41.   But despite these restrictions, China has been very successful at attracting Western companies to its space program.

42.   But failure to restore the flow of oxygen could force the evacuation of the space station and deal a major blow to the impoverished Russian space program.

43.   But in interviews, several psychological experts close to the space program said it was unfair to bash Tsibliyev.

44.   But Ms. Flood also has mixed feelings about the moon mission and where the United States should head next with its space program.

45.   But no one doubted the government-backed space program would generate important information and new technologies.

46.   But NASA officials argued that the American and Russian programs are now linked so intimately that the Russian effort must be preserved lest the American space program suffer.

47.   But James Oberg, a Houston-based aerospace engineer and author who has written extensively on the Russian space program, questions the wisdom of the repair mission.

48.   But she fought her own demons after the Challenger disaster, in particular her feelings of guilt for being such an advocate for the teacher in space program.

49.   But some analysts fear that may come too late to save the space program.

50.   But the embarrassing incident underscores the decline of the once-proud Russian space program.