The Molniya were Soviet communication satellites operating from an inclined highly elliptical earth orbit of 500 km × 40000 km with 12 hour period for coverage of high northern latitudes.
The Molniya was a modification of the well-known R-7 Semyorka rocket and had four stages. The 8K78 resulted from a crash program by the Korolev Bureau to develop a booster for launching planetary probes. A larger third stage was added along with a fourth stage (Blok L) that was designed to fire in-orbit to send the payload out of LEO. The basic R-7 core was also structurally strengthened and given more powerful engines. A rushed development produced multiple malfunctions of the upper stages, which led to its being replaced by the improved Molniya-M in 1964, but there were enough 8K78s left to continue flying them into 1967.
The Strategic Rocket Forces of the Russian Federation are a separate-troops branch of the Russian Armed Forces that control Russia's land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
WIKIA batch of 53 satellites for Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
A batch of satellites for Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
A batch of 53 satellites for Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
New generation experimental Earth imaging satellite for the Jilin-1 constellation. NOTE: Payload identity unconfirmed.
Third cargo delivery mission to the Chinese large modular space station.
A batch of 53 satellites for Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
Earth observation satellites for the Jilin-1 commercial Earth observation satellites constellation.
Commercial rideshare mission including payloads for Alba Orbital, Astrix Astronautics, Aurora Propulsion Technologies, E-Space, Spaceflight Inc, Swar…
Earth observation satellites for the Jilin-1 commercial Earth observation satellites constellation.
A batch of 53 satellites for Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.