It was not immediately clear whether the orbit reached by the Sich-1M satellite, launched from the Plessetsk space centre in northern Russia, would allow it to carry out its mission, or whether it would be possible to correct the orbit.

The satellite was launched along with a smaller Ukrainian-built craft aboard a Russian Tsiklon-3 rocket. Both satellites are designed to map the earth's surface in all weather conditions, and to provide navigational services for ships.

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