Russia's geostationary military communication satellite Raduga-1 has likely lost communications with the flight control center, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.

Citing a source in the Russian aerospace industry, the report said the satellite might have run out of fuel and not be controlled by ground control center anymore.

Earlier this week, the Raduga-1 approached within three kilometers of a South Korean COMS-1 satellite after the Russian satellite began to become uncontrollable in space.

Currently the distance between the two satellites is about 120 kilometers.

After the incidents, the South Korean aerospace institute said it had to modify the orbit of its COMS-1 to avoid a repetition of the possible collision.

However, Russia's Itar-Tass news agency said there was no reason to say the satellite has broken down.

"According to available data, no dangerous encounters of Raduga-1 with foreign spacecraft have been observed," Itar-Tass quoted another source as saying.

The source also said the Defense Ministry is considering whether to let the Raduga-1 burn up in the atmosphere or raise it to a disposal orbit.

The last work of the Raduga-1's engine was performed in December. An adjustment of the satellite's orbit, scheduled for February, was cancelled and the satellite has since started moving away from its assigned position.

Source: Xinhuanet