Molniya-M Block 2BL

8K78M Blok 2BL

Mission Profile

Molniya-M Block 2BL (8K78M Blok 2BL) is a Soviet four-stage variant of the Molniya rocket optimized for placing payloads into highly elliptical Molniya orbits used by communications satellites at high latitudes. Standing 43.4 meters tall and generating 4,070 kN at liftoff, it flew from Baikonur and Plesetsk beginning 19 September 1972. The Molniya family drew on heritage from the R-7 Semyorka ICBM and became a workhorse for Soviet communications and early warning satellites.