Russian Rocket Carrying Satellite Burns up over Siberia

A Russian rocket carrying a Mexican satellite has malfunctioned and burnt up over Siberia soon after launch on Saturday, Russia's space agency says.

The Proton-M carrier rocket broke down minutes after it was launched from Kazakhstan on Saturday morning, the Roscosmos agency said.

The cause of the accident is being investigated, Roscosmos added.

Russia's space programme has experienced a series of embarrassing mishaps in recent months.

Earlier reports said that the rocket had crashed in Siberia.

On Tuesday Russia was forced to delay the return of three astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) after an out-of-control unmanned cargo ship also burnt up as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on 28 April.
[link to www.bbc.com]