Mayak Credit - USAF Phillips Laboratory

In 1990 the Applied Mechanics NPO announced that it was developing a successor to the Molniya series of spacecraft. The design for the Mayak spacecraft closely resembled the Arcos geosynchronous spacecraft with which it was to form the Marathon communications system. The total on-orbit mass was to be 2,500-3,000 kg which included a payload mass of 580 kg. Mayak would support both L-band and C-band communications and would be compatible with INMARSAT standards. Four spacecraft would comprise the Mayak system and the design lifetime for each vehicle was to be twice that of Molniya: 5-7 years. The first launch of a Mayak spacecraft by the new Rus launch vehicle was not scheduled until 1997 or later, five years after the original schedule.

Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Payload: 580 kg (1,270 lb).