Starship V3 Targets May 19 on New Pad 2 | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX targets May 19 for Starship V3's debut from Launch Pad 2, while the FCC approves a $2.4B EchoStar spectrum deal for Starlink.
MOLNIYA 3-31 (17328)
COSPAR: 1987-008A | Alt Name: Molniya-3
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
January 22, 1987
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC41/1
Launch Vehicle
Molniya 8K78M
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
17328
International Designator
1987-008A
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:09:49 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
62.00°
Right Ascension
269.90°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
260.49°
Period
717.90 min
Mean Motion
2.01 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
MOLNIYA 3-31
Alternative Name
Molniya-3
Type
Payload
Status
Unknown
Owner
UNKS/MSVYAZ
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 17328U 87008A 26184.75681767 -.00000358 00000-0 -18469-2 0 9990
2 17328 61.9974 269.9004 7341131 260.4913 17.7446 2.00585610285500
Source: Celestrak
Summary
The MOLNIYA 3-31 satellite, also known as Molniya-3, was launched on January 22, 1987, from the PLMSC launch site using a Molniya 8K78M launch vehicle. Its mission is communication and it was manufactured by NPOPM for UNKS/MSVYAZ. The satellite has dimensions of 3.6 meters in length, 1.6 meters in diameter, and a span of 8.1 meters. It weighs 1750 kg at launch with a dry mass of 1700 kg. Its power system consists of six deployable solar arrays (producing up to 1000 W) and batteries. The satellite's configuration is KAUR-2, based on the Molniya-3 bus, equipped with a KDU-414A or 11D414NS motor for propulsion. It has a cylindrical shape with six panels, an RCS of 14.1925, and was intended to operate for about three years in orbit.
Physical Characteristics
Length
3.6
Diameter
1.6
Span
8.1
Dry Mass
1700
Launch Mass
1750
Shape
Cyl + 6 Pan
Radar Cross Section
14.1925
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Molniya-3 No. 42
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
NPOPM
Life Expectancy
3 years
Bus
Molniya-3
Configuration
KAUR-2
Motor
KDU-414A (S5.114) or 11D414NS
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
6 deployable solar arrays (1000 W), batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
X Report 23 Oct 2025
SpaceX continues to break records with its Falcon 9 missions while facing public scrutiny from Elon Musk regarding NASA's leadership. Meanwhile, satellite spectrum battles heat up as Lynk Global and Omnispace prepare to merge.
Army Recruiting 1,000 Space Specialists Alongside Space Force | KeepTrack Space Brief
Army launches space career field seeking 1,000 new specialists. HASC chair Rogers eyes $1.5T defense budget. Army and Marines share fire mission data via JADC2.
Space Brief 22 Mar 2025
Today's briefing covers a range of critical space industry updates, from Space Force's strategic initiatives to SpaceX's latest launch record and groundbreaking developments in orbital manufacturing.
The Day Two Satellites Said Hello at 26,000 Miles Per Hour
Seventeen years ago today, an operational American communications satellite and a dead Russian military relay crossed paths over Siberia. What happened next created more than 2,000 pieces of trackable debris - and fundamentally changed how the world thinks about space traffic.
X Report 2 Jul 2025
SpaceX achieved significant milestones with the launch of its 500th Falcon 9 rocket and the deployment of a European weather satellite, showcasing its ongoing impact in space exploration and satellite technology.
25 Starlinks Lift Off from Vandenberg in Latest Batch | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX launched 25 more Starlink satellites from Vandenberg SFB on March 8, 2026, pushing the active constellation toward 9,914 working spacecraft.
X Report 5 Jan 2025
SpaceX prepares for the next Starship test flight with significant vehicle upgrades, launches UAE's Thuraya-4 satellite, and reflects on a record-breaking 2024 while planning for a promising 2025.