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. August 22, 1964 at 07:21 UTC · Launch Successful Molniya 8K78 — Soviet Space Program, to Elliptical Orbit 1/5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan The world's 351st orbital launch attempt, and 58th of 1964. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs. Image via The Space Devs.