Russia loses contact with Meteor-M satellite

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Moscow lost contact with a satellite after its launch from Russia's far east, the state space corporation said Tuesday.

A Soyuz-2.1b rocket carrying several satellites lifted off from Vostochny Cosmodrome at 08.41 a.m. Moscow time (0541GMT), Roscosmos said in a statement.

"The launch mission is to deliver an Earth observation Meteor-M No. 2-1 satellite into the solar-synchronous orbit," it said.

The Roscosmos said it was not "possible" to establish a connection due to satellite's absence in the target orbit during the first planned communication session.

"Currently, the information is being analyzed," it added.