Molniya
Operated by USSR / Russia
Data current as of 2026-07-20.
Molniya satellites gave the Soviet Union communications coverage over its high-latitude territory using highly elliptical orbits. The 12-hour Molniya orbit that carries them is named after the program.
Molniya accounts for 170 cataloged objects, of which 35 are in orbit and 0 are active. 135 have reentered. The first launched in 1965, the most recent in 2004. The busiest year was 1975, with 10 added. Most fly near a 64-degree inclination with an orbital period around 718 minutes.
35
In orbit
0
Active
170
Total launched
135
Reentered
Molniya launched per year
Still in orbit Since reentered Click a year to list its satellites.
Typical specifications
Most common values across cataloged Molniya satellites.
| Manufacturer | NPOPM |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Communication |
| Launch mass | 1650 kg |
| Dry mass | 1620 kg |
| Length | 4.4 m |
| Diameter | 1.4 m |
| Span | 8.6 m |
| Shape | Cyl + 6 Pan |
| Power | 6 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
| Propulsion | KDU-414A (S5.114) |
| Design life | 3 years |
| Typical orbit | 718 min period, 64° inclination |
Spacecraft buses
The platforms Molniya satellites are built on.
| Bus | Satellites |
|---|---|
| Molniya-1 | 78 |
| Molniya-3 | 53 |
| Molniya-2 | 17 |
| Molniya-1T | 16 |
Launched on
Molniya satellites
The 100 most recently launched, of 170. Track any of them live in KeepTrack.
| Name | NORAD | COSPAR | Bus | Launched | Orbit | Status | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOLNIYA 1-93 Molniya-1T | 28163 | 2004-005A | Molniya-1T | Feb 18, 2004 | 88 min, 62.9° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-53 Molniya-3 | 27834 | 2003-029A | Molniya-3 | Jun 19, 2003 | 89 min, 63.8° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-92 Molniya-1T | 27707 | 2003-011A | Molniya-1T | Apr 2, 2003 | 92 min, 63.8° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-52 Molniya-3 | 26970 | 2001-050A | Molniya-3 | Oct 25, 2001 | 88 min, 63.8° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-51 Molniya-3 | 26867 | 2001-030A | Molniya-3 | Jul 20, 2001 | 92 min, 62.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-50 Molniya-3 | 25847 | 1999-036A | Molniya-3 | Jul 8, 1999 | 718 min, 63.5° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-91 Molniya-1T | 25485 | 1998-054A | Molniya-1T | Sep 28, 1998 | 609 min, 64.7° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-49 Molniya-3 | 25379 | 1998-040A | Molniya-3 | Jul 1, 1998 | 91 min, 63.1° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-90 Molniya-1T | 24960 | 1997-054A | Molniya-1T | Sep 24, 1997 | 452 min, 64.4° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-48 Molniya-3 | 24640 | 1996-060A | Molniya-3 | Oct 24, 1996 | 88 min, 63.3° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-89 Molniya-1T | 24273 | 1996-045A | Molniya-1T | Aug 14, 1996 | 89 min, 62.5° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-47 Molniya-3 | 23642 | 1995-042A | Molniya-3 | Aug 9, 1995 | 713 min, 64.9° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-88 Molniya-1T | 23420 | 1994-081A | Molniya-1T | Dec 14, 1994 | 430 min, 64.2° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-46 Molniya-3 | 23211 | 1994-051A | Molniya-3 | Aug 23, 1994 | 95 min, 62.2° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-87 Molniya-1T | 22949 | 1993-079A | Molniya-1T | Dec 22, 1993 | 710 min, 64.9° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-45 Molniya-3 | 22729 | 1993-049A | Molniya-3 | Aug 4, 1993 | 89 min, 62.1° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-86 Molniya-1 | 22671 | 1993-035A | Molniya-1T | May 26, 1993 | 254 min, 62.9° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-44 Molniya-3 | 22633 | 1993-025A | Molniya-3 | Apr 21, 1993 | 92 min, 63.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-85 Molniya-1 | 22309 | 1993-002A | Molniya-1T | Jan 13, 1993 | 91 min, 62.0° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-23 DEB deb Molniya-3 | 23006 | 1985-004E | · | Apr 1, 1992 | 94 min, 63.8° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-43 Molniya-3 | 22255 | 1992-085A | Molniya-3 | Dec 2, 1992 | 90 min, 63.1° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-42 Molniya-3 | 22178 | 1992-067A | Molniya-3 | Oct 14, 1992 | 653 min, 64.4° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-84 Molniya-1 | 22068 | 1992-050A | Molniya-1T | Aug 6, 1992 | 200 min, 61.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-83 Molniya-1 | 21897 | 1992-011A | Molniya-1T | Mar 4, 1992 | 98 min, 62.0° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-41 Molniya-3 | 21706 | 1991-065A | Molniya-3 | Sep 17, 1991 | 704 min, 62.7° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-82 Molniya-1 | 21630 | 1991-053A | Molniya-1T | Aug 1, 1991 | 94 min, 61.7° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-81 Molniya-1 | 21426 | 1991-043A | Molniya-1T | Jun 18, 1991 | 718 min, 63.4° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-40 Molniya-3 | 21196 | 1991-022A | Molniya-3 | Mar 22, 1991 | 709 min, 64.7° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-80 Molniya-1 | 21118 | 1991-012A | Molniya-1T | Feb 15, 1991 | 702 min, 64.9° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-79 Molniya-1 | 20949 | 1990-101A | Molniya-1T | Nov 23, 1990 | 88 min, 62.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-39 Molniya-3 | 20813 | 1990-084A | Molniya-3 | Sep 20, 1990 | 90 min, 62.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-78 Molniya-1 | 20742 | 1990-071A | Molniya-1T | Aug 10, 1990 | 90 min, 61.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-38 Molniya-3 | 20646 | 1990-052A | Molniya-3 | Jun 13, 1990 | 101 min, 62.5° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-77 Molniya-1 | 20583 | 1990-039A | Molniya-1 | Apr 26, 1990 | 96 min, 62.0° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-37 Molniya-3 | 20444 | 1990-006A | Molniya-3 | Jan 23, 1990 | 88 min, 61.6° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-36 Molniya-3 | 20338 | 1989-094A | Molniya-3 | Nov 28, 1989 | 93 min, 63.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-76 Molniya-1 | 20255 | 1989-078A | Molniya-1 | Sep 27, 1989 | 89 min, 63.2° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-35 Molniya-3 | 20052 | 1989-043A | Molniya-3 | Jun 8, 1989 | 91 min, 61.9° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-75 Molniya-1 | 19807 | 1989-014A | Molniya-1 | Feb 15, 1989 | 718 min, 63.8° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-74 Molniya-1 | 19730 | 1988-115A | Molniya-1 | Dec 28, 1988 | 92 min, 63.6° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-34 Molniya-3 | 19713 | 1988-112A | Molniya-3 | Dec 22, 1988 | 89 min, 62.0° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-33 Molniya-3 | 19541 | 1988-090A | Molniya-3 | Sep 29, 1988 | 89 min, 62.2° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-73 Molniya-1 | 19377 | 1988-069A | Molniya-1 | Aug 12, 1988 | 92 min, 62.6° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-32 Molniya-3 | 19189 | 1988-044A | Molniya-3 | May 26, 1988 | 90 min, 62.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-72 Molniya-1 | 18980 | 1988-022A | Molniya-1 | Mar 17, 1988 | 90 min, 61.7° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-71 Molniya-1 | 18946 | 1988-017A | Molniya-1 | Mar 11, 1988 | 717 min, 62.1° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-31 Molniya-3 | 17328 | 1987-008A | Molniya-3 | Jan 22, 1987 | 718 min, 62.0° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-70 Molniya-1 | 17264 | 1986-103A | Molniya-1 | Dec 26, 1986 | 95 min, 62.2° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-69 Molniya-1 | 17078 | 1986-089A | Molniya-1 | Nov 15, 1986 | 717 min, 63.5° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-30 Molniya-3 | 17038 | 1986-079A | Molniya-3 | Oct 20, 1986 | 99 min, 62.1° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-68 Molniya-1 | 16934 | 1986-068A | Molniya-1 | Sep 5, 1986 | 93 min, 61.8° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-67 Molniya-1 | 16885 | 1986-057A | Molniya-1 | Jul 30, 1986 | 106 min, 62.1° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-29 Molniya-3 | 16802 | 1986-049A | Molniya-3 | Jun 19, 1986 | 93 min, 63.6° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-28 Molniya-3 | 16683 | 1986-031A | Molniya-3 | Apr 18, 1986 | 94 min, 61.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-27 Molniya-3 | 16393 | 1985-117A | Molniya-3 | Dec 24, 1985 | 678 min, 61.9° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-66 Molniya-1 | 16220 | 1985-103A | Molniya-1 | Oct 28, 1985 | 89 min, 62.1° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-65 Molniya-1 | 16187 | 1985-099A | Molniya-1 | Oct 23, 1985 | 90 min, 61.7° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-26 Molniya-3 | 16112 | 1985-091A | Molniya-3 | Oct 3, 1985 | 94 min, 62.6° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-64 Molniya-1 | 15977 | 1985-074A | Molniya-1 | Aug 22, 1985 | 94 min, 61.9° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-25 Molniya-3 | 15909 | 1985-061A | Molniya-3 | Jul 17, 1985 | 92 min, 62.2° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-24 Molniya-3 | 15738 | 1985-040A | Molniya-3 | May 29, 1985 | 563 min, 62.4° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-23 Molniya-3 | 15476 | 1985-004A | Molniya-3 | Jan 16, 1985 | 120 min, 63.9° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-63 Molniya-1 | 15429 | 1984-124A | Molniya-1 | Dec 14, 1984 | 719 min, 63.0° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-62 Molniya-1 | 15214 | 1984-089A | Molniya-1 | Aug 24, 1984 | 627 min, 63.0° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-61 Molniya-1 | 15182 | 1984-085A | Molniya-1 | Aug 10, 1984 | 91 min, 62.5° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-60 Molniya-1 | 14825 | 1984-029A | Molniya-1 | Mar 16, 1984 | 90 min, 63.2° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-22 Molniya-3 | 14570 | 1983-123A | Molniya-3 | Dec 21, 1983 | 92 min, 63.9° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-59 Molniya-1 | 14516 | 1983-114A | Molniya-1 | Nov 23, 1983 | 90 min, 62.5° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-21 Molniya-3 | 14313 | 1983-090A | Molniya-3 | Aug 30, 1983 | 92 min, 62.1° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-58 Molniya-1 | 14199 | 1983-073A | Molniya-1 | Jul 19, 1983 | 90 min, 63.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-57 Molniya-1 | 13964 | 1983-025A | Molniya-1 | Apr 2, 1983 | 91 min, 62.6° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-56 Molniya-1 | 13890 | 1983-019A | Molniya-1 | Mar 16, 1983 | 720 min, 62.6° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-20 Molniya-3 | 13875 | 1983-015A | Molniya-3 | Mar 11, 1983 | 718 min, 62.0° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-19 Molniya-3 | 13432 | 1982-083A | Molniya-3 | Aug 27, 1982 | 90 min, 62.2° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-55 Molniya-1 | 13383 | 1982-074A | Molniya-1 | Jul 21, 1982 | 91 min, 63.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-54 Molniya-1 | 13237 | 1982-050A | Molniya-1 | May 29, 1982 | 94 min, 63.7° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-18 Molniya-3 | 13107 | 1982-023A | Molniya-3 | Mar 24, 1982 | 657 min, 63.8° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-53 Molniya-1 | 13070 | 1982-015A | Molniya-1 | Feb 26, 1982 | 718 min, 63.8° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-52 Molniya-1 | 13012 | 1981-123A | Molniya-1 | Dec 23, 1981 | 719 min, 61.7° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-51 Molniya-1 | 12959 | 1981-113A | Molniya-1 | Nov 17, 1981 | 91 min, 63.3° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-17 Molniya-3 | 12915 | 1981-105A | Molniya-3 | Oct 17, 1981 | 107 min, 62.3° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-50 Molniya-1 | 12556 | 1981-060A | Molniya-1 | Jun 24, 1981 | 94 min, 32.2° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-16 Molniya-3 | 12512 | 1981-054A | Molniya-3 | Jun 9, 1981 | 89 min, 62.1° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-15 Molniya-3 | 12368 | 1981-030A | Molniya-3 | Mar 24, 1981 | 93 min, 63.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-49 Molniya-1 | 12156 | 1981-009A | Molniya-1 | Jan 30, 1981 | 133 min, 61.8° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-14 Molniya-3 | 12133 | 1981-002A | Molniya-3 | Jan 9, 1981 | 92 min, 61.9° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-48 Molniya-1 | 12066 | 1980-092A | Molniya-1 | Nov 16, 1980 | 93 min, 62.3° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-13 Molniya-3 | 11896 | 1980-063A | Molniya-3 | Jul 18, 1980 | 718 min, 63.8° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-47 Molniya-1 | 11856 | 1980-053A | Molniya-1 | Jun 21, 1980 | 120 min, 27.3° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-46 Molniya-1 | 11662 | 1980-002A | Molniya-1 | Jan 11, 1980 | 93 min, 63.1° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-45 Molniya-1 | 11589 | 1979-091A | Molniya-1 | Oct 20, 1979 | 95 min, 61.7° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-44 Molniya-1 | 11474 | 1979-070A | Molniya-1 | Jul 31, 1979 | 88 min, 61.9° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-12 Molniya-3 | 11384 | 1979-048A | Molniya-3 | Jun 5, 1979 | 93 min, 62.9° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-43 Molniya-1 | 11328 | 1979-031A | Molniya-1 | Apr 12, 1979 | 100 min, 63.7° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-11 Molniya-3 | 11240 | 1979-004A | Molniya-3 | Jan 18, 1979 | 93 min, 61.9° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 3-10 Molniya-3 | 11057 | 1978-095A | Molniya-3 | Oct 13, 1978 | 351 min, 63.7° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-42 Molniya-1 | 11007 | 1978-080A | Molniya-1 | Aug 22, 1978 | 95 min, 62.3° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-41 Molniya-1 | 10984 | 1978-072A | Molniya-1 | Jul 14, 1978 | 98 min, 61.8° | Reentered | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-40 Molniya-1 | 10925 | 1978-055A | Molniya-1 | Jun 2, 1978 | 717 min, 64.0° | Inactive | ◉ |
| MOLNIYA 1-39 Molniya-1 | 10696 | 1978-024A | Molniya-1 | Mar 2, 1978 | 158 min, 61.7° | Reentered | ◉ |
Showing 100 of 170 objects.
Frequently asked questions
How many Molniya satellites are in orbit?
35 Molniya objects are currently in orbit, out of 170 ever cataloged. 135 have reentered.
How many Molniya satellites are active?
0 Molniya satellites carry an active status in the catalog.
When did the first Molniya satellite launch?
The first cataloged Molniya object launched in 1965, and the most recent in 2004.
Who operates Molniya?
Molniya is operated by USSR / Russia.
How can I track Molniya satellites?
You can track the Molniya fleet live in the KeepTrack 3D tracker, or open any individual satellite from the list on this page.