Meridian / Meridian-M

Military communications satellitesIn servicePending verification

Also known as: 14F112M

SpaceRUS

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Fact cardConfidence · Source

System

TypeMilitary communications satellites

Alternative designations14F112M

ProliferationOrigin country only

Satellites4Meridian-M 8–11 (2019–2026); two more plannedMed^[1]

Orbit

Orbit regimeHEO (Molniya)Med^[1]

Orbit900 km × 39,000 km, 65°Med^[1]

Design life7 yearsMed^[1]

Catalogued on orbit7Payloads with current element sets in the public catalog, active or not.High^[2]

Active (CelesTrak)5Count in the CelesTrak active satellites list, which estimates operational status.Med^[2]

Perigee1,293–2,650 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Apogee37,708–39,060 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Orbital period717.7–717.9 minActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Inclination62.7–65.54 °Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Catalogued satellites · 7^[2]

Name	NORAD	COSPAR	Perigee km	Apogee km	Incl. °	Period min	Status
MERIDIAN 3	37212	2010-058A	1,808	38,547	63.45	717.8	Inactive
MERIDIAN 6	38995	2012-063A	564	39,790	63.48	717.8	Inactive
MERIDIAN 7	40296	2014-069A	2,650	37,708	63.45	717.8	Active
MERIDIAN 8	44453	2019-046A	1,293	39,060	63.27	717.7	Active
MERIDIAN 9	45254	2020-015A	2,093	38,262	65.54	717.8	Active
MERIDIAN 10	52145	2022-030A	2,048	38,312	62.7	717.9	Active
MERIDIAN-M 21L	68571	2026-071A	1,363	38,995	62.84	717.8	Active

Mean elements at epoch 2026-11-06 or later. Perigee and apogee are computed from mean motion and eccentricity and are approximate. Status follows the CelesTrak active list.

Summary

Molniya-orbit communications satellites replacing Molniya series.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.

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Operators

Russia

Sources

Meridian-M (14F112M), Gunter's Space Page
Tier 3 · checked 2026-11-08
NORAD GP element sets (current data), CelesTrak (data from the U.S. Space Force 18th/19th Space Defense Squadron catalog)
Published/updated 2026-11-08 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-11-08

Change log

2026-11-08 Entry created from cited open sources
2026-11-08 Orbital elements from CelesTrak GP data (epoch about 2026-11-08): 7 catalogued, 5 active.