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Other Designations: Molniya-2M. Article Number: 11F637. Class: Communications. Destination: Molniya Orbit. Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Manufacturer: Reshetnev. Development of the Molniya-2M communications satellite, later called Molniya-3, began in 1972. Flight trials began in November 1974. 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. Typical orbit: 900 km x 39000 km at 65 degrees inclination. Length: 4.40 m (14.40 ft). Maximum Diameter: 1.40 m (4.50 ft). Span: 8.20 m (26.90 ft). Mass: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.
Molniya-3 Chronology
- 1994 August 23 - Molniya-3-46 - Program: Molniya. Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Mass: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Perigee: 1,518 km (943 mi). Apogee: 38,837 km (24,132 mi). Inclination: 64.90 deg. Period: 717.80 min.
Replaced Molniya 3-40. As of 1994, the Molniya 3 constellation consisted of Molniya 3-36, 3-38, 3-39, 3-42, 3-43, 3-44, 3-45, and 3-46.
- 1995 August 9 - Molniya-3-47 - Program: Molniya. Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Mass: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Perigee: 1,216 km (755 mi). Apogee: 39,142 km (24,321 mi). Inclination: 64.20 deg. Period: 717.80 min.
Voice and TV coverage.
- 1996 October 24 - Molniya-3-48 - Program: Molniya. Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Mass: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Perigee: 1,837 km (1,141 mi). Apogee: 38,520 km (23,930 mi). Inclination: 64.90 deg. Period: 717.80 min.
- 1998 July 1 - Molniya-3-49 - Program: Molniya. Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Perigee: 501 km (311 mi). Apogee: 39,850 km (24,760 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 717.70 min.
- 1999 July 8 - Molniya-3-50 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Perigee: 1,811 km (1,125 mi). Apogee: 38,540 km (23,940 mi). Inclination: 63.50 deg. Period: 717.70 min.
The launch was from one of the three active R-7 class pads at Plesetsk (LC16/pad 2, LC43/pad 3, LC43/pad 4) and used the 8K78M launch vehicle, consisting of the 11S59 core packet, the 11S510 Block I third stage, and the Block-ML upper stage. The Block ML and the payload were placed in a 62.8 degree low parking orbit and then the ML fired to deliver the payload to a 12-hour operational orbit. This was the 52nd Molniya-3 to be launched (two were orbited under the Cosmos designation).
- 2001 July 20 - Molniya-3-51 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Perigee: 888 km (551 mi). Apogee: 39,467 km (24,523 mi). Inclination: 62.90 deg. Period: 717.80 min.
Molniya-3K military communications satellite and booster fourth stage entered a 214 x 420 km x 62.8 deg parking orbit at 0026 GMT. About half an orbit later, over the southeast Pacific, the NPO Lavochkin Block-ML fourth stage fired to put the payload into a 407 x 40831 km x 62.9 deg orbit. The Molniya-3K was an improved version of the Molniya-3 military satellite.
- 2001 October 25 - Molniya-3-52 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Perigee: 646 km (401 mi). Apogee: 40,658 km (25,263 mi). Inclination: 62.90 deg.
Launch delayed from October 11. The Molniya-3 military communications satellite and Block ML upper stage were inserted into an initial 214 x 617 km x 62.8 deg parking orbit at 1143 GMT. At apogee over the South Pacific, the BOZ ullage motor fired and separated, then the ML main engine ignited and put the Molniya-3 satellite into its 615 x 40659 km x 62.8 deg operational orbit with apogee over the northern hemisphere.
- 2003 June 19 - Molniya 3-53 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Mass: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Perigee: 651 km (404 mi). Apogee: 39,703 km (24,670 mi). Inclination: 62.90 deg. Period: 717.80 min.
The satellite entered a 211 x 559 km x 62.8 deg parking orbit, and then the Blok ML upper stage fired to put it in a 604 x 40578 km x 62.7 deg drift orbit with a 734 minute period. The orbit was later adjusted to 717.8 minutes (semi-synchronous) with an onboard engine. The special orbital inclination of 63 degrees minimizes the rotation of the orbit in its plane due to the oblateness of the Earth, keeping the apogee in the same apparent position over the northern hemisphere.
Bibliography and Further Reading
- Melnik, T G, Voenno-Kosmicheskiy Siliy, Nauka, Moscow, 1997.. Two-volume official history of the (now defunct) Russin space forces.
- Varfolomyev, Timothy, Spaceflight, "Soviet Rocketry that Conquered Space - Part 5", 1998, Volume 40, page 85. 1: Sp 95/37-260; Sp 96/38-31 (8K71 launches); 2: Sp 96/38-48; 3: Sp 96/38-206; Sp 96/38-317 (designatons); 4: Sp 98/40-28; 5:Sp 98/40-85
- McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
- McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Report (Internet Newsletter), Harvard University, Weekly, 1989 to Present. Essential internet newsletter recording worldwide weekly space events. Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
- Novosti Kosmonavtiki, "Otmenenniy Start "Molniya-M"", 1997, Issue 1, page 29.
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