"A liaison session has been carried out with the satellite. It is under control," a Khrunichev space center official told the Interfax news agency.

Earlier, Roskosmos space agency vice-director Nikolai Moisseyev said the satellite might be lost because of difficulties establishing a link with the rocket propelling the unit.

The Monitor-E satellite will be used for mapping, and monitoring pollution and natural or man-made disasters.

"This is the first time that a small-size satellite matches heavy ones in its work parameters and can help resolve a wide range of social and economic problems," Khrunichev space center spokesman Alexander Bobrenev said.

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