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Molniya-3 Satellite Bus

Data current as of 2026-07-20.

The Molniya-3 bus accounts for 55 cataloged objects, of which 13 are in orbit and 0 are active. 42 have reentered. Most are built by NPOPM. The largest operator on this bus is NPOPM/MSVYAZ. The first launched in 1974, the most recent in 2003.

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13
In orbit
0
Active
55
Total launched
42
Reentered

Molniya-3 launched per year

2 4 6 1974: 1 launched, 1 since reentered 1975: 3 launched, 3 since reentered 1976: 2 launched, 2 since reentered 1977: 2 launched, 1 since reentered 1978: 2 launched, 1 since reentered 1979: 2 launched, 2 since reentered 1980: 2 launched, 1 since reentered 1981: 5 launched, 4 since reentered 1982: 2 launched, 2 since reentered 1983: 3 launched, 2 since reentered 1984: 0 objects launched 1985: 5 launched, 3 since reentered 1986: 3 launched, 3 since reentered 1987: 1 object launched 1988: 3 launched, 3 since reentered 1989: 2 launched, 2 since reentered 1990: 3 launched, 3 since reentered 1991: 2 objects launched 1992: 2 launched, 1 since reentered 1993: 2 launched, 2 since reentered 1994: 1 launched, 1 since reentered 1995: 1 object launched 1996: 1 launched, 1 since reentered 1997: 0 objects launched 1998: 1 launched, 1 since reentered 1999: 1 object launched 2000: 0 objects launched 2001: 2 launched, 2 since reentered 2002: 0 objects launched 2003: 1 launched, 1 since reentered 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999
Still in orbit Since reentered Click a year to list its satellites.

Typical specifications

Most common values across cataloged Molniya-3 satellites.

Manufacturer NPOPM
Purpose Communication
Launch mass 1750 kg
Dry mass 1700 kg
Length 3.6 m
Diameter 1.6 m
Span 8.1 m
Shape Cyl + 6 Pan
Power 6 deployable solar arrays (1000 W), batteries
Propulsion KDU-414A (S5.114) or 11D414NS
Design life 3 years
Typical orbit 718 min period, 64° inclination

Top operators

NPOPM/MSVYAZ 19 UNKS/MSVYAZ 11 VKS/GPKS 7 OKB10/MSVYAZ 6 GUKOS/MSVYAZ 4 KVR/KS 3 UNKSR/MSVYAZ 2 VKSR/GPKS 2

Top countries

SU 43 RU 12

Molniya-3 satellites

Track any of them live in KeepTrack.

Name NORAD COSPAR Owner Launched Orbit Status Track
MOLNIYA 3-53 Molniya-3 27834 2003-029A KVR/KS Jun 19, 2003 89 min, 63.8° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-52 Molniya-3 26970 2001-050A KVR/KS Oct 25, 2001 88 min, 63.8° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-51 Molniya-3 26867 2001-030A KVR/KS Jul 20, 2001 92 min, 62.4° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-50 Molniya-3 25847 1999-036A VKSR/GPKS Jul 8, 1999 718 min, 63.5° Inactive ◉
MOLNIYA 3-49 Molniya-3 25379 1998-040A VKSR/GPKS Jul 1, 1998 91 min, 63.1° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-48 Molniya-3 24640 1996-060A VKS/GPKS Oct 24, 1996 88 min, 63.3° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-47 Molniya-3 23642 1995-042A VKS/GPKS Aug 9, 1995 713 min, 64.9° Inactive ◉
MOLNIYA 3-46 Molniya-3 23211 1994-051A VKS/GPKS Aug 23, 1994 95 min, 62.2° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-45 Molniya-3 22729 1993-049A VKS/GPKS Aug 4, 1993 89 min, 62.1° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-44 Molniya-3 22633 1993-025A VKS/GPKS Apr 21, 1993 92 min, 63.4° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-43 Molniya-3 22255 1992-085A VKS/GPKS Dec 2, 1992 90 min, 63.1° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-42 Molniya-3 22178 1992-067A VKS/GPKS Oct 14, 1992 653 min, 64.4° Inactive ◉
MOLNIYA 3-41 Molniya-3 21706 1991-065A UNKSR/MSVYAZ Sep 17, 1991 704 min, 62.7° Inactive ◉
MOLNIYA 3-40 Molniya-3 21196 1991-022A UNKSR/MSVYAZ Mar 22, 1991 709 min, 64.7° Inactive ◉
MOLNIYA 3-39 Molniya-3 20813 1990-084A UNKS/MSVYAZ Sep 20, 1990 90 min, 62.4° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-38 Molniya-3 20646 1990-052A UNKS/MSVYAZ Jun 13, 1990 101 min, 62.5° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-37 Molniya-3 20444 1990-006A UNKS/MSVYAZ Jan 23, 1990 88 min, 61.6° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-36 Molniya-3 20338 1989-094A UNKS/MSVYAZ Nov 28, 1989 93 min, 63.4° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-35 Molniya-3 20052 1989-043A UNKS/MSVYAZ Jun 8, 1989 91 min, 61.9° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-34 Molniya-3 19713 1988-112A UNKS/MSVYAZ Dec 22, 1988 89 min, 62.0° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-33 Molniya-3 19541 1988-090A UNKS/MSVYAZ Sep 29, 1988 89 min, 62.2° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-32 Molniya-3 19189 1988-044A UNKS/MSVYAZ May 26, 1988 90 min, 62.4° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-31 Molniya-3 17328 1987-008A UNKS/MSVYAZ Jan 22, 1987 718 min, 62.0° Inactive ◉
MOLNIYA 3-30 Molniya-3 17038 1986-079A UNKS/MSVYAZ Oct 20, 1986 99 min, 62.1° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-29 Molniya-3 16802 1986-049A UNKS/MSVYAZ Jun 19, 1986 93 min, 63.6° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-28 Molniya-3 16683 1986-031A GUKOS/MSVYAZ Apr 18, 1986 94 min, 61.4° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-27 Molniya-3 16393 1985-117A GUKOS/MSVYAZ Dec 24, 1985 678 min, 61.9° Inactive ◉
MOLNIYA 3-26 Molniya-3 16112 1985-091A GUKOS/MSVYAZ Oct 3, 1985 94 min, 62.6° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-25 Molniya-3 15909 1985-061A GUKOS/MSVYAZ Jul 17, 1985 92 min, 62.2° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-24 Molniya-3 15738 1985-040A NPOPM/MSVYAZ May 29, 1985 563 min, 62.4° Inactive ◉
MOLNIYA 3-23 Molniya-3 15476 1985-004A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Jan 16, 1985 120 min, 63.9° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-22 Molniya-3 14570 1983-123A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Dec 21, 1983 92 min, 63.9° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-21 Molniya-3 14313 1983-090A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Aug 30, 1983 92 min, 62.1° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-20 Molniya-3 13875 1983-015A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Mar 11, 1983 718 min, 62.0° Inactive ◉
MOLNIYA 3-19 Molniya-3 13432 1982-083A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Aug 27, 1982 90 min, 62.2° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-18 Molniya-3 13107 1982-023A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Mar 24, 1982 657 min, 63.8° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-17 Molniya-3 12915 1981-105A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Oct 17, 1981 107 min, 62.3° Reentered ◉
COSMOS 1305 Kosmos-1305 12818 1981-088A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Sep 11, 1981 264 min, 62.8° Inactive ◉
MOLNIYA 3-16 Molniya-3 12512 1981-054A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Jun 9, 1981 89 min, 62.1° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-15 Molniya-3 12368 1981-030A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Mar 24, 1981 93 min, 63.4° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-14 Molniya-3 12133 1981-002A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Jan 9, 1981 92 min, 61.9° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-13 Molniya-3 11896 1980-063A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Jul 18, 1980 718 min, 63.8° Inactive ◉
SL-6 PLAT Kosmos-1175 11769 1980-031C NPOPM/MSVYAZ Apr 18, 1980 89 min, 62.8° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-12 Molniya-3 11384 1979-048A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Jun 5, 1979 93 min, 62.9° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-11 Molniya-3 11240 1979-004A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Jan 18, 1979 93 min, 61.9° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-10 Molniya-3 11057 1978-095A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Oct 13, 1978 351 min, 63.7° Inactive ◉
MOLNIYA 3-9 Molniya-3 10605 1978-009A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Jan 24, 1978 639 min, 63.3° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-8 Molniya-3 10455 1977-105A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Oct 28, 1977 717 min, 63.8° Inactive ◉
MOLNIYA 3-7 Molniya-3 09941 1977-032A NPOPM/MSVYAZ Apr 28, 1977 92 min, 61.5° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-6 Molniya-3 09635 1976-127A OKB10/MSVYAZ Dec 28, 1976 497 min, 62.4° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-5 Molniya-3 08833 1976-041A OKB10/MSVYAZ May 12, 1976 665 min, 62.1° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-4 Molniya-3 08521 1975-125A OKB10/MSVYAZ Dec 27, 1975 91 min, 63.4° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-3 Molniya-3 08425 1975-105A OKB10/MSVYAZ Nov 14, 1975 90 min, 61.1° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-2 Molniya-3 07738 1975-029A OKB10/MSVYAZ Apr 14, 1975 718 min, 63.6° Reentered ◉
MOLNIYA 3-1 Molniya-3 07540 1974-092A OKB10/MSVYAZ Nov 21, 1974 93 min, 63.2° Reentered ◉

Frequently asked questions

How many Molniya-3 satellites are there?

The catalog lists 55 objects built on the Molniya-3 bus. 13 are in orbit and 42 have reentered.

How many Molniya-3 satellites are in orbit?

13 Molniya-3 objects are currently in orbit, of which 0 carry an active status.

Who builds the Molniya-3 bus?

The Molniya-3 bus is most commonly built by NPOPM.

When did the first Molniya-3 satellite launch?

The first cataloged Molniya-3 satellite launched in 1974, and the most recent in 2003.

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Satellite data compiled by KeepTrack from CelesTrak, Space-Track, and GCAT, provided under CC BY-NC 4.0.