Phobos-Grunt launched successfully on its Zenit rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and was dropped off into an elliptical orbit with an apogee (farthest point from Earth) of 345km.

BBC: Stricken Mars probe stays silent

The Zenit-3SL rocket, which was being operated from a floating pad south of the Hawaiian islands, failed 40 seconds after the lift-off at 06:56 GMT.

BBC: Science & Environment

With the launch of the RadioAstron telescope on board a Zenit-2SB rocket this morning, Russia has embarked on the first stage of a plan to create the largest radio telescope yet.

FORBES: Russian Launch: a Bid for Largest Telescope Ever