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Molniya-3
Part of KAUR-2
Molniya
Molniya
Credit: © Mark Wade
Russian communications satellite. Development of the Molniya-2M communications satellite, later called Molniya-3, began in 1972. Flight trials began in November 1974. Communication satellite built by NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki (NPO PM), Russia. Launched 1974 - 2003. Used KAUR-2 bus.

AKA: 11F637;Molniya-2M. Status: Operational 1974. First Launch: 1974-11-21. Last Launch: 2003-06-19. Number: 55 . Gross mass: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Height: 4.40 m (14.40 ft). Span: 8.20 m (26.90 ft).

The Molniya-3 group of four satellites was used to create the Orbita communications system for northern regions of the Soviet Union. The land segment used a 12 m diameter parabolic antenna, pointed automatically at the satellite using autonomous electromechanical equipment. Although primarily for civilian applications, later versions were part of the Soviet YeSSS Unified Satellite Communications System. Trials of this version began in the 1980's, with the system being accepted by the military in 1983-1985.

Molniya-3 used the Segment-3 three-channel repeater (cm-band, 4-6 GHZ). The Molniya 3 spacecraft supported civil communications (domestic and international) while Molniya-1T were used almost exclusively for military communications. Compared to Molniya-1T they had a slightly enhanced electrical power system and a communications payload of three 6/4 GHz transponders with power outputs of 40 W or 80 W. Molniya 3 spacecraft only originated from Plesetsk.

Until 1983 the Molniya 3 constellation consisted of only four satellites, which were essentially co-located with four Molniya 1 satellites. When the Molniya 3 system was expanded to eight vehicles as part of the military's YeSSS system in 1983-1985, the new additions inaugurated the 155 degrees E ascending node geometry. After the restructuring of the Molniya-1T constellations in 1991, the Molniya 1 and 3 systems were essentially the same from a deployment perspective and to some extent provided an inherent backup capability. On the average Molniya-3 spacecraft were replaced slightly less frequently than their Molniya 1 cousins, representing either an extra 5 to 6 months of operational life, or a more casual attitude to having redundant civilian as opposed to military capability.


More at: Molniya-3.

Family: Communications, Molniya orbit. Country: Russia. Engines: KDU-414. Launch Vehicles: R-7, Molniya 8K78M, Molniya 8K78M-PVB. Projects: Molniya. Launch Sites: Plesetsk, Plesetsk LC41/1, Plesetsk LC43/4, Plesetsk LC43/3, Plesetsk LC16/2. Agency: MOM, Reshetnev bureau. Bibliography: 102, 2, 296, 4, 445, 6, 64, 65, 12853, 12854.
Photo Gallery

Molniya-3Molniya-3


YeSSS Unified SatellYeSSS Unified Satell
Unified Satellite Communication System
Credit: NASA


Molniya 3-26Molniya 3-26
Credit: Manufacturer Image


Molniya-3-51Molniya-3-51
Credit: Manufacturer Image



1974 November 21 - . 10:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1975 April 14 - . 17:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1975 November 14 - . 19:14 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1975 December 27 - . 10:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1976 May 12 - . 17:57 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1976 December 28 - . 06:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1977 April 28 - . 09:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1977 October 28 - . 01:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1978 January 24 - . 06:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1978 October 13 - . 05:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1979 January 18 - . 15:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1979 June 5 - . 23:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1980 April 18 - . 17:31 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. FAILURE: Fourth stage failure.. Failed Stage: U.
1980 July 18 - . 10:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1981 January 9 - . 14:57 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1981 March 24 - . 03:31 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1981 June 9 - . 03:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1981 September 11 - . 08:43 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. FAILURE: Fourth stage failure.. Failed Stage: U.
1981 October 17 - . 05:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1982 March 24 - . 00:12 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1982 August 27 - . 00:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1983 March 11 - . 15:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1983 August 30 - . 22:49 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1983 December 21 - . 06:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1985 January 16 - . 06:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1985 May 29 - . 07:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1985 July 17 - . 01:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1985 October 3 - . 07:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1985 December 24 - . 18:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1986 April 18 - . 19:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1986 June 19 - . 21:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1986 October 20 - . 08:49 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1987 January 22 - . 16:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1988 May 26 - . 15:27 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1988 September 29 - . 09:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1988 December 22 - . 14:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1989 June 8 - . 17:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1989 November 28 - . 10:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1990 January 23 - . 02:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1990 June 13 - . 01:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1990 September 20 - . 20:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1991 March 22 - . 12:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1991 September 17 - . 20:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1992 October 14 - . 19:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M-PVB.
1992 December 2 - . 01:57 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M-PVB.
1993 April 21 - . 00:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1993 August 4 - . 00:52 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1994 August 23 - . 14:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. Launch Pad: LC43/4?. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1995 August 9 - . 01:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1996 October 24 - . 11:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1998 July 1 - . 00:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
1999 July 8 - . 08:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
2001 July 20 - . 00:17 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
2001 October 25 - . 11:34 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
2003 June 19 - . 20:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC16/2. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.

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