The short answer to that question is: not a lot.

Engineers have so far failed to establish communication with the lost Phobo-Grunt space probe, and time is running out.

Russia's Phobos-Grunt spacecraft was launched on its way to Mars' moon Phobos on 8 November, but its engines failed to fire once it escaped Earth's atmosphere. Several experts say that this is due to a failure of the instruments that are supposed to use the stars to navigate.

Although it is hard to get accurate information, it seems like Russian engineers have until 21 November at the latest to try and communicate with the probe. Any later than this, and it will be unable to reach Phobos, due to changes in the orbits of Earth and Mars that will block its route.

Phobos-Grunt was on an ambitious mission to land on Phobos, collect soil samples and return them to Earth in a mini rocket. Whenever more information is available, we'll keep you updated.