# Molniya-2

> Soviet communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q4300513](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4300513)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/molniya-2

## Summary
Molniya-2 is a Soviet communications satellite that belongs to the Molniya family of spacecraft. It is catalogued under the GRAU index 11F628 and is classified as an artificial satellite of Earth.

## Key Facts
- **GRAU index**: 11F628 (Soviet military designation)
- **Subclass of**: Molniya satellite class
- **Instance of**: artificial satellite of Earth
- **Wikipedia coverage**: available in Portuguese and Russian
- **Wikidata ID**: Q1666540
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/120w3lg7
- **Related test flights**: Cosmos 837 and Cosmos 853

## FAQs
### Q: What does the designation 11F628 mean?
A: 11F628 is the Soviet GRAU index that uniquely identifies the Molniya-2 satellite within the Soviet military’s classification system for spacecraft.

### Q: Is Molniya-2 still operational?
A: Source material does not specify operational status or launch dates; only the classification and index are provided.

### Q: How does Molniya-2 differ from other Molniya satellites?
A: The source only states that Molniya-2 is a subclass of the broader Molniya communications satellite family; no performance or design differences are listed.

### Q: Where can I read more about Molniya-2?
A: Wikipedia articles exist in Portuguese and Russian; Wikidata entry Q1666540 also aggregates basic facts.

## Why It Matters
Molniya-2 represents a specific variant within the Soviet Union’s pioneering Molniya communications satellite lineage. While the provided data are sparse, the very existence of a dedicated GRAU index (11F628) signals that the spacecraft had distinct hardware or mission parameters worthy of separate military bookkeeping. During the Cold War, such satellites enabled high-latitude communications for the USSR, filling coverage gaps that conventional geostationary spacecraft could not serve. Molniya-2 therefore contributes to the historical arc of space-based telecommunications and to the technological competition that shaped early global satellite networks.

## Notable For
- **Unique GRAU index**: 11F628 distinguishes it from other Molniya variants
- **Multilingual coverage**: documented on Wikipedia in both Portuguese and Russian
- **Test heritage**: linked to Cosmos 837 and Cosmos 853, suggesting an iterative development program
- **Military classification**: carries a GRAU index, underscoring its defense-related role

## Body
### Designation and Classification
Molniya-2 is identified by the Soviet military index 11F628, a code assigned by the Main Agency of Missiles and Artillery (GRAU). This index separates it from other Molniya models and implies dedicated hardware or mission requirements.

### Family Lineage
As a subclass of the Molniya family, Molniya-2 inherits the highly elliptical “Molniya orbit” that provides long dwell times over northern latitudes—an advantage for Soviet communications coverage.

### Related Test Missions
Cosmos 837 and Cosmos 853 are listed as related entities; these were likely engineering or qualification flights that validated technologies later incorporated into Molniya-2.