[4][5] In the early 1960s, when Europe and America were establishing geostationary communication satellites, the Russians found these orbits unsuitable.

The next attempt was on 22 August 1964 and reached orbit successfully, but the parabolic communications antennas did not properly deploy due to a design flaw in the release mechanism.

[11] They had a lifespan of approximately 1.5 years, as their orbits were disrupted by perturbations, as well as deteriorating solar arrays and they had to be constantly replaced.

Earlier models were used for civilian communications in a similar orbit, but different purpose, to the military-only Molniya-1 satellites.

[2] A typical Molniya series satellite, has: In general, the oblateness of the Earth perturbs the argument of perigee (

), so that even if the apogee started near the north pole, it would gradually move unless constantly corrected with station-keeping thruster burns.

Keeping the dwell point over Russia, and useful for communications necessitated without excessive fuel use meant that the satellites needed an inclination of 63.4°, for which these perturbations are zero.

[19][18] Similarly, to ensure the ground track repeats every 24 hours the nodal period needed to be half a sidereal day.

To maximise the dwell time the eccentricity, the differences in altitudes of the apogee and perigee, had to be large[broken anchor].