Molniya orbit


Molniya orbit

[′mōl·nē·ə ‚ȯr·bət] (aerospace engineering) An earth satellite orbit designed for communications satellite service coverage at high latitudes, with an orbital period of slightly less than 12 hours (semisynchronous orbit), inclination of 63.4°, and high eccentricity (0.722), so that the apogee (where the satellite lingers over the service coverage area) is at 25,000 miles (40,000 kilometers) and the perigee is at only 300 miles (500 kilometers).