A Russian rocket launched a communications satellite produced by US defence company Lockheed Martin into space on Saturday but failed to take it into the planned orbit, Russian space officials said.

But the Briz-M booster failed 10 minutes later and the satellite is lower than the planned orbit of around 35,000 kilometres (21,750 miles) above Earth.

What Roskosmos needs is better sponsorship for its Proton-M rockets... (click the pic, Bozo)