The MOLNIYA 3-43 satellite, also known as Molniya-3, was launched on December 2, 1992, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Molniya 8K78M-PVB launch vehicle from Launch Pad LC43/3. The satellite is part of the Molniya-3 series and has the configuration KAUR-2. It was manufactured by NPOPM for communication purposes and is owned by VKS/GPKS. With dimensions of 3.6 meters in length, 1.6 meters in diameter, and a span of 8.1 meters, its shape consists of a cylinder with six panels. The satellite's dry mass is 1700 kilograms, and it had an initial launch mass of 1750 kilograms. It is powered by six deployable solar arrays providing up to 1000 watts and includes batteries for power storage. MOLNIYA 3-43 was designed with a motor type KDU-414A (S5.114) or 11D414NS, and its intended operational lifetime was three years.