MOSCOW, November 3 - RAPSI, Natalya Belova. A commercial court postponed until November 23 the hearing of the Defense Ministry's appeal against the dismissal of its lawsuit against the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia (Energia) for $8.5 million.

The Defense Ministry based its claim on the rocket company's failure to complete its contracted space system engineering work on time, as it was obligated to do under a July 31, 2007 contract.

The contract stipulated that the works would be completed in two stages.

Energia was required to complete the first stage by June 30, 2008. However, additional agreements to the contract were later concluded to extend the work terms.

The ministry believes that the additional agreements are invalid, and Energia should have completed the first stage of the work as stated in the contract as opposed to in 2009.

Energia is the space and rocket industry's leader. It develops missile systems, combat and geophysical missiles, boosters, spaceships and space stations. Energia participated in building the International Space Station and is working on the Global Navigation Satellite System program.