MOSCOW, February 16 - RAPSI. A federal commercial court will hear on March 12 the Defense Ministry's appeal against the adversary judgment in its lawsuit to recover $8.8 million from the Energia S.P. Korolev Rocket-Space Corporation, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com).

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 work would be completed in two stages.

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

The ministry believes the additional agreements are invalid as the parties had no right to enter into the agreements, and Energia should have completed the first stage of the work as stated in the contract as opposed to in 2009.

The defendant has rejected the claims.

Energia is a space and rocket industry 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.