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NEW DELHI: Kazakhstan, which houses the world famous Baikonur satellite launching facility, is looking for a tie-up with the Indian Space Research Organisation, including joint projects for construction of various types of satellites and training of engineers and specialists.

A five-member high-level delegation led by the Chairman of the country's space agency, National Cosmic Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Talghat Mussabayev, is here for discussion with ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair and other officials.

During the week-long visit, the delegation will visit the ISRO headquarters, the ISRO Satellite Centre, the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Commanding Network's Headquarter and the Regional Remote Sensing Service Centre in Bangalore, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota and the National Remote Sensing Agency in Hyderabad.

Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Mr. Mussabayev said Kazakhstan was looking for long-term cooperation with India as the two countries had a lot of expertise to share in terms of construction of satellites as also their launching.

Pointing out that his country had become a space power with the launch of its first-ever telecommunication satellite, KazSat-1 last year, he said not only two more satellites were in the pipeline, the country was also developing a new generation rocket launcher that would be more eco-friendly than the Russian proton type boosters.

Called Baiterek, the new launcher will be capable of placing 30-tonne charge into orbit. Preliminary trials for a prototype were set for 2010 with more powerful versions to be tested one year later.

It will be launched from a specially designed launch pad at Baikonur, the construction of which will begin shortly.

Between now and 2020, the country hopes to construct a dozen telecommunication satellites and put in place a satellite navigation system.

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev is keen on developing the space industry in the country, notably in the domain of the telecommunication satellites, taking advantage of the Baikonur facility.

Brazilian goalkeeper Dida will miss AC Milan's home game against Catania on Sunday and Wednesday's visit to Celtic in the Champions League because of a shoulder injury.

"Dida has a problem that will take a week to heal," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference.

Zeljko Kalac is expected to fill in again after the Australian replaced Dida in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at Palermo.

"Kalac has always given excellent performances, including the games he played in the Champions League last year," added Ancelotti.

Third baseman David Wright missed an easy force play, Oliver Perez hit a pair of batters with the bases loaded and the New York Mets stumbled out of the NL East lead with a 7-4 loss to the last-place Florida Marlins.

New York has lost five straight and 11 of 15 to fall one game back of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets' eighth straight home loss dropped them out of first place for the first time since May 15.

The Mets had a seven-game lead on Sept. 12 with 17 games left. No major league team has blown such a big lead in such a short time to end a season.

Jeremy Hermida hit a two-run homer, Hanley Ramirez had three hits and Dan Uggla scored three runs for the Marlins, who took a 4-1 lead in the third as Perez tied a major league record by hitting three batters in one inning.

Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer and Luis Castillo went 3-for-5 for the Mets.

Byung-Hyun Kim allowed eight hits and four runs in five innings. He threw two pitches in the sixth before departing with a blister on his right hand.