Russia has lost contact with a satellite just hours after it was launched into the space.

The Russian space agency said it has failed to establish contact with the newly launched meteor satellite after it reached orbit.

The Meteor-M satellite is to monitor weather and climate for Russia’s meteorological agency.

The Sayuz rocket carrying the satellite was only the second to launch from Russia’s new €2 billion Vostochy Cosmodrome in Siberia near the Chinese border.

The rocket was also carrying 18 smaller satellites.

The new spaceport aims to reduce Russia’s dependence on its Cosmodrome located in Kazakstan, which used to be part of the Soviet Union.

The Russian space agency is monitoring the situation.