UPDATE - Russia loses contact with Meteor-M satellite

UPDATES WITH REMARKS OF KREMLIN SPOKESMAN

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.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was not aware of the reasons for loss of contact with the satellite.

"I do not have information. I do not think there is detailed information on what exactly happened and for what reason," Peskov told reporters according to Russia's official news agency TASS.

Kremlin is waiting for reports from Roscosmos, Peskov added.