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Another Soyuz rocket launch fails Another Soyuz rocket launch fails
(40 minutes later)
By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC NewsBy Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News
Russia's recent poor launch record has continued with yet another Soyuz rocket failure.Russia's recent poor launch record has continued with yet another Soyuz rocket failure.
This time, a Soyuz-2 vehicle failed to put a communications satellite into orbit after lifting away from the country's Plesetsk spaceport.This time, a Soyuz-2 vehicle failed to put a communications satellite into orbit after lifting away from the country's Plesetsk spaceport.
Debris is said to have re-entered the Earth's atmosphere near the western Siberian town of Tobolsk.Debris is said to have re-entered the Earth's atmosphere near the western Siberian town of Tobolsk.
In August, a Soyuz failure on a mission to resupply the space station led to a six-week suspension of flights.In August, a Soyuz failure on a mission to resupply the space station led to a six-week suspension of flights.
Friday's rocket was carrying a Meridian-5 satellite, designed to provide communication between ships, planes and coastal stations on the ground, according to RIA Novosti.Friday's rocket was carrying a Meridian-5 satellite, designed to provide communication between ships, planes and coastal stations on the ground, according to RIA Novosti.
Its was a Soyuz-2.1b, the most modern version of the rocket that has been in service in various forms since the 1960s. The failure is said to have occured seven minutes into the flight. It was a Soyuz-2.1b, the most modern version of the rocket that has been in service in various forms since the 1960s. The failure is said to have occured seven minutes into the flight.
August's botched launch involved a Soyuz-U, which uses a number of different components and systems.August's botched launch involved a Soyuz-U, which uses a number of different components and systems.
An inquiry into that incident eventually found the rocket's third stage to have experienced a blocked fuel line, which resulted in a premature engine shut-down.An inquiry into that incident eventually found the rocket's third stage to have experienced a blocked fuel line, which resulted in a premature engine shut-down.
Friday's failure now puts a major question mark against the next Soyuz launch, scheduled for 26 December from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This flight is intended to put in orbit six satellites for the Globalstar satellite phone company.Friday's failure now puts a major question mark against the next Soyuz launch, scheduled for 26 December from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This flight is intended to put in orbit six satellites for the Globalstar satellite phone company.
Russia has experienced a number of launch mishaps in the past 13 months.
On 18 August, the week before the loss of the space station mission, a Proton vehicle failed to put a $300m communications satellite in its proper orbit.
Back on 1 February, a Rokot launch also underperformed with a similar outcome.
And on 5 December last year, a Proton carrying three navigation spacecraft fell into the Pacific Ocean. This particular failure is widely believed to have contributed to the decision of the Russian government to replace the then space agency chief Anatoly Perminov.
Vladimir Popovkin took over as the head of Roscosmos in April.
The rocket failures come on top of the loss of Phobos-Grunt, Russia's most ambitious planetary mission in decades. It became stuck in Earth orbit after its launch in November and will probably fall back to Earth next month.
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.ukJonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk