The Russian Phobos Grunt mission almost has a zero chance to be revived as Russian space officials have only until today to send the unmanned spacecraft to Mars moon.

Russian new agency RIA Novosti reported that according to an airspace source, the launch window to send the mission to a Mars moon will close Monday, Nov. 21.

"The spacecraft has already unfolded its solar panel and is in the so-called "barbeque mode," the source told RIA Novosti, referring to the passive control mode during which the spacecraft rotates around its roll axis to prevent solar exposure and overheating.

Attempts to establish contact with the spacecraft which aimed to bring back rock and soil samples from the Martian moon Phobos have failed, but space officials said the craft is still stuck in orbit.

Vladimir Popovkin, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, had dismissed reports about possible risks should the spacecraft fall into the Earth's atmosphere saying that the craft which contains 7.5 metric tons of highly toxic chemicals, is likely to explode and destroy the probe upon reentry.

According to the report, the Russian space agency expects the possible reentry after January, while a Russian rocket ballistic expert said the spacecraft fragments may possibly fall in the U. S., China, Africa, Middle East, some European countries, Australia, Japan and in Russia.

However, the failed Mars probe will not affect the pace of Russia's space exploration, said Popovkin, noting that only 30 percent of the Soviet-Russian launches to Mars were successful.