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. April 23, 1965 at 01:55 UTC · Launch Successful Molniya 8K78 — Soviet Space Program, to Elliptical Orbit 1/5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan The world's 428th orbital launch attempt, and 35th of 1965. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs. Image via The Space Devs.