This possibility was discussed during his Wednesday meeting with chief of the Russian Space Agency Yuri Koptev and presidential aide Yevgeny Shaposhnikov.

Putin also said that the Mir space station must be preserved and that Russia will continue to participate in international space programs and will fulfil all its international commitments.

However, "the main emphasis" must be put on Russian manufacturers, Putin said.

Speaking about financing in the space industry, Putin stressed that the government fully met its obligations to space companies in 1999 for the first time in recent years.

Putin signed a Federal Space Program for 2001-2005 on March 30.

This program "recognizes our needs and potential," Russian Aerospace Agency Director Yuri Koptev said.

The Russian space program in 2000 will include replacement of satellites as well as manned flights, he told the press on Wednesday.

Koptev reminded that a new generation Express-A Russian communications satellite was launched recently.

Russia's 110 satellites account for one fifth of all the space equipment now in orbit, Koptev said. "We make thorough use of them," he said. No other country has such a vast experience of space exploration, Koptev said.

In particular, Russia continues to be a world leader in the production of rocket engines and our country also has unique methods for extended space travel, he said.

However, according to Koptev, other countries have much more funds for their space programs. In particular, the U.S. budget has $30 billion per annum to develop the space industry. "We don't have that kind of money," he said.

According to Koptev, "if space is not politicized, countries can successfully cooperate in this area. Russia is developing such cooperation with the U.S., Japan, China and France, he said.