Phobos-Grunt Mars probe stalls in orbit

A Russian space probe intended to collect rock and dust from a Martian moon has failed to set course for the Red Planet soon after launching from Kazakhstan.

The Russian space agency said an engine designed to keep the probe on track failed to start. It says engineers have three days to correct the fault before batteries on the craft run out.

The project is Russia's most ambitious space voyage in recent years.

From Moscow, Daniel Sandford reports.