SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -Molniya satellites greatly improved communications in polar regions where land based services are often unreliable. Sirius Satellite Radio initially put two satellites into a variation of the highly inclined MEO called a Tundra Orbit in which the period is close to 24 hours (i.e. synchronous) rather than 12.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Molniya orbit combines high inclination (63.4°) with high eccentricity (0.722) to maximize viewing time over high latitudes. Each orbit lasts 12 hours, so the slow, high-altitude portion of the orbit repeats over the same location every day and night.

Detailed explanation-3: -A Molniya orbit, often referred to as a highly elliptical orbit (or HEO) is an egg-shaped orbit inclined approximately 60 degrees to the equator with a high apogee over the northern hemisphere and a low perigee over the southern hemisphere.

Detailed explanation-4: -Mission Details 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.