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The exact height of a satellite in a Molniya orbit varies between missions, but a typical orbit will have a perigee altitude of approximately 600 kilometres (370 mi) and an apogee altitude of 39,700 kilometres (24,700 mi), for a semi-major axis of 26,600 kilometres (16,500 mi).
By the 1970s, the Molniya 1 series (and the upgrade Molniya 1T) was mostly used for military communications, with civilian communications moving to Molniya 2. [ 11 ] In total 94 Molniya 1 series satellites were launched, with the last going up in 2004.
For Earth orbiting satellites below the height of about 800 km, the atmospheric drag is the major orbit perturbing force out of all non-gravitational forces. [11] Above 800 km, solar radiation pressure causes the largest orbital perturbations. [12]
A highly elliptical orbit (HEO) is an elliptic orbit with high eccentricity, usually referring to one around Earth.Examples of inclined HEO orbits include Molniya orbits, named after the Molniya Soviet communication satellites which used them, and Tundra orbits.
where is the orbital inclination, is the eccentricity, is mean motion in degrees per day, is the perturbing factor, is the radius of the Earth, is the semimajor axis, and ˙ is in degrees per day. To avoid this expenditure of fuel, the Tundra orbit uses an inclination of 63.4°, for which the factor ( 4 − 5 sin 2 i ) {\displaystyle (4-5 ...
Molniya 1 (Russian: Молния-1) is the first Soviet communications satellite. A total of 5 experimental devices were launched to create a long-distance radio communication line between Moscow and Vladivostok .
Maiden flight of Diamant B, the first orbital launch from Kourou and South America in general 13 March: Voskhod: Site 43/4, Plesetsk: Kosmos 326 (Zenit-2 #80) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance: In orbit: Successful 17 March: Vostok-2M: Site 41/1, Plesetsk: Meteor-1 3 Low Earth Orbit Meteorology: In orbit: Successful 18 March: Kosmos-2: Site ...
A Molniya-M carrier rocket with a 2BL upper stage was used to perform the launch, which took place at 15:09 UTC on 12 August 1985. [3] The launch successfully placed the satellite into a molniya orbit. It subsequently received its Kosmos designation, and the international designator 1985-071A. [4]