Gorizont 33

Gorizont 33 (Russian: Горизонт 33 meaning "Horizon 33"), also known as Gorizont 45L was a Russian communications satellite operated by Kosmicheskiya Svyaz (RSCC). It was the last satellite to be launched as part of the Gorizont constellation. Constructed by NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki (NPO PM), it was based on the KAUR-3 satellite bus. Its launch was contracted by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, using a Proton-K / Briz-M launch vehicle.

Gorizont 33

Names	Горизонт 33 Horizon 33 Gorizont 45L
Mission type	Communications
Operator	Kosmicheskiya Svyaz (RSCC)
COSPAR ID	2000-029A
SATCAT no.	26373
Website	https://eng.rscc.ru/
Mission duration	3 years (planned) 8 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Gorizont 33
Spacecraft type	KAUR
Bus	KAUR-3
Manufacturer	NPO PM
Launch mass	2,300 kg (5,100 lb)
Dimensions	2 m (diameter) 5 m (height)
Power	1280 watts
Start of mission
Launch date	6 June 2000, 02:59:00 UTC
Rocket	Proton-K / Briz-M
Launch site	Baikonur, Site 81/24
Contractor	Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
Entered service	August 2000
End of mission
Disposal	Graveyard orbit
Deactivated	March 2008
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	145° East
Transponders
Band	7 transponders: 6 C-band 1 Ku-band
Coverage area	Russia, Commonwealth of Independent States
Gorizont constellation ← Gorizont 32

Launch

The launch occurred at 02:59:00 UTC on 6 June 2000 from Site 81/24 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This was the first successful launch of a Proton with a Briz-M upper stage, and as the previous Proton/Briz-M launch failed during the second stage burn, on 5 July 1999, the first firing of a Briz-M in flight.^[1] The Proton itself flew with uprated engines, increasing its payload capacity ahead of the launch of Zvezda, a little over a month later, on 12 July 2000. The launch was conducted as a test flight of the Proton, and the satellite would not have been considered a significant loss if it had not reached orbit.

Mission

Following its launch and on-orbit testing, it was placed in geosynchronous orbit at 145° East,^[2] from where it provides communications services to Russia.^[3] It carried seven transponders, and had an expected on-orbit lifespan of three years.^[4][5] Its stabilisation system failed in March 2008, leaving the satellite drifting at a rate of 0.3° West per day, eight years after it had been launched.