Molniya (satellite)
Molniya 1 | |||
| Manufacturer | Experimental Design Bureau (OKB-1) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country of origin | USSR | ||
| Operator | Experimental Design Bureau (OKB-1) | ||
| Applications | Communications and surveillance | ||
| Specifications | |||
| Bus | KAUR-2 | ||
| Launch mass | 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) | ||
| Dimensions | 4.4 m tall, 1.4 m base diameter | ||
| Power | 6 solar panels + batteries | ||
| Regime | Molniya orbit | ||
| Design life | 1.5 to 5 years | ||
| Production | |||
| Status | Retired | ||
| Launched | 164 | ||
| Maiden launch | Molniya 1-1, 23 April 1965 | ||
| Last launch | Molniya 1-93, 18 February 2004 | ||
| |||
The Molniya (Russian: Молния, IPA: [ˈmolnʲɪjə] ⓘ, "Lightning") series satellites were military and communications satellites launched by the Soviet Union from 1965 to 1991, and by the Russian Federation from 1991 to 2004. These satellites used highly eccentric elliptical orbits known as Molniya orbits, which have a long dwell time over high latitudes. They are suited for communications purposes in polar regions, in the same way that geostationary satellites are used for equatorial regions.
There were 164 Molniya satellites launched, all in Molniya orbits with the exception of Molniya 1S which was launched into geostationary orbit for testing purposes.