Russian satellites fail to enter orbit after launch

Russian Proton-M rocket carrying the three Glonass satellites is carried to the launch pad - 2 December 2010

One Russian aerospace source said the carrier rocket veered off course after launch

Three Russian satellites have failed to enter orbit after they were launched on a rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Russian aerospace experts said the Glonass spacecraft and the upper-stage booster carrying them probably fell into the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.

The satellites were to be part of a navigation system meant to rival GPS.

Russia has already successfully launched a number of the Glonass satellites this year.

Officials had hoped to have the navigation system fully in place in 2011.