Briz-M booster failed to bring two satellites into a calculated transition orbit after the launch late on Monday, Russia Roscosmos space agency reported yesterday.

      The launch of the booster took place at 20.31 GMT on August 6, it was itself successful. It carried two communication satellites – Express MD2 and Telekom-3.

      However, an emergency situation occurred during firing of the Briz M upper stage. The first two engine firings were successful, but the last one failed to occur. Now the booster and the two satellites are not detected on the transition orbit.

      The Roscosmos's specialists admit that the chance to establish contacts with the booster and to deliver the satellites on the designated orbit are practically non-existent.

      Now the lost satellites have turned into space rubbish and may pose a danger for other space objects which are already in that orbit.

      It is still unclear why the failure occurred. One of the theories says there was some kind of a mistake in the booster's steering system, due to which the rocket deviated from its course.

      The recent incident has become the latest in a series of failures that has haunted Russia's space program. Last year Russia lost three satellites in the similar conditions.