A Kosmos 3M failed in its attempt to launch QuickBird 1 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 2300 UTC November 20. Signals from the satellite were not picked up as planned by ground stations.

During the final stage of the satellite's entry into orbit, it was outside the field of Russian tracking stations. However, after entering the tracking stations' reach, the QuickBird satellite did not make contact with Earth. U.S. tracking data indicated the satellite's initial orbit was 81 km x 614 km (44 nmi x 332 nmi) at 65.8 degrees, and now lists the orbit as "decayed". Rosaviakosmos (Russian Aerospace Agency - RAKA) reported that preliminary analysis indicates the second stage of the Kosmos 3M may have shut down too early. 

The launch was reportedly insured for US$230 million.