Russia Doing Without Satellite Photographs

In a vivid demonstration of the financial and technical problems afflicting this country’s once-proud space program, Russia has been without photo reconnaissance satellites for nearly two months, according to Russian and American scientists.

It is the first time since the early 1960s that the Russian military has been deprived for more than a brief period of the satellite pictures modern armies deem essential for detecting threats and conducting combat.

Russia’s last operable photo satellite burned up on re-entry into the atmosphere on Sept. 28, and since then, American and British experts say, the Russian military has been deprived of up-to-date photos of such potential flash points as the Russia-China border.