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Article Number: 11F662. Class: Communications. Destination: Geosynchronous Orbit. Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Manufacturer: Reshetnev. Gorizont-1 was designed specifically to support broadcast of the 1980 Olympic Games from Russia. The first was launched in December 1978, followed by two in 1979. The last satellite was launched on 14 June 1980 and entered operation only on 2 July, 13 days before the start of the games. The constellation provided 30 channels of television via 500 Moskva receiving stations equipped with 2.5 m antennae. These broadcast television throughout the Soviet Union. Trials of the system were completed in 1981. The geostationary Gorizont satellite was later part of the Russian YeSSS Unified Satellite Communication System. These satellites provided civilian and military telephone, telegraph, and facsimile communications services, in addition to relaying TV and radio broadcasts. Gorizont also supported maritime and international communications from 1988 as an element of the Okean system operating at 1.5 to 1.6 GHz. The KAUR-3 spacecraft bus was 3-axis stabilized using liquid propellant micro-engines to within 0.25 degrees of the earth's centre. The single-unit body was equipped with solar panels, and active liquid-gas phase-change thermoregulation system, and a corrective engine unit for making orbital adjustments. 25 square meters of solar panels provided 1280 W of power. Gorizont was equipped with seven transponders.260 GHz total bandwidth.195 W total transponder power with EIRP of 28 to 38.5 dBW. Frequency bands: 6/4, 14/11, 1.6/1.5 GHz.
The Gorizont satellites were primarily used for domestic and international communications. The Gorizont constellation in 1993-1994 established a tenth position in the geosynchronous ring for domestic needs and deployed three Gorizonts (one old, two new) to new locations in support of Rimsat, Ltd., the US-based firm leasing orbital slots from Tonga. In all, four Gorizont spacecraft were launched during 1993-1994, but one was lost due to a Proton launch failure. With no resident spacecraft being retired during the period, the number of active Gorizonts increased by the end of 1994 to its peak of 13.
The Gorizont spacecraft possessed an initial mass in excess of 2.1 metric tons and demonstrated a lifetime of nearly 10 years, although a 5-year service life was more common. The 3-axis stabilized satellite was approximately 2 m in diameter and 5 m long with two large solar arrays capable of generating 1.3 kW of electrical power for the first three years. Seven separate transmission antennas permitted a variety of reception patterns for both broad and localized terrestrial regions.
A typical Gorizont communications payload included six general purpose (TV, audio, facsimile) 6/4 GHz transponders (five 12.5 W and one 60 W), one Luch 14/11 GHz transponder (15 W), and one Volna 1.6/1.5 GHz transponder (20 W). The Volna transponders were INMARSAT-compatible and extensively used by the Russian merchant marine fleet via the primary control center in the Tomilino suburb of Moscow and the Odessa and Nakhodka ground stations. Gorizont was the primary geosynchronous television re-broadcasting system, supporting all five Russian Federation time zones: Zone 1 from 140 degrees E, Zone 2 from 90 degrees E, Zone 3 from 80 degrees E, Zone 4 from 53 degrees E, and Zone 5 from 14 degrees W. These transmissions were handled by Orbita (12-m receiving antenna) and Moskva (2.5-m receiving antenna) ground stations in the 6/4 GHz band. The Moskva Globalnaya system was inaugurated in 1989 using 4-m receiving antennas and serviced by Gorizonts at 96.5 degrees E and 11 degrees W. Design Life: 3 years. Typical orbit: Geosynchronous. Mass: 2,110 kg (4,650 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S86, Proton 8K82K / 11S861. Gorizont Chronology
- 1988 January 18 - Gorizont s/n 25L - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861. FAILURE: Third stage malfunction. Mass: 2,100 kg (4,600 lb).
- 1989 January 26 - Gorizont 17 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861. Mass: 2,120 kg (4,670 lb). Perigee: 36,034 km (22,390 mi). Apogee: 36,224 km (22,508 mi). Inclination: 8.40 deg. Period: 1,453.60 min.
Stationed at 53 deg E. Provision of telephone and telegraph radiocommunications and television broadcasting. The Rimsat network was initiated when Gorizont 17 was leased to the corporation and transferred from 53 degrees E (where it was then a backup to Gorizont 27) to 134 degrees E during late-June and July, 1993. At the close of 1994, Gorizont 17 was still on station but nearing the end of its operational life after six years. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 53 deg E in 1989-1993; 134 deg E in 1993-1995; 34 deg E in 1995-1997 As of 30 August 2001 located at 22.84 deg W drifting at 4.340 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 147.41W drifting at 4.350W degrees per day.
- 1990 June 20 - Gorizont 20 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S86. Mass: 2,125 kg (4,684 lb). Perigee: 35,771 km (22,227 mi). Apogee: 35,801 km (22,245 mi). Inclination: 1.50 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Stationed at 90 deg E. Provision of telephone and telegraph communications and transmission of television programmes, continuation of work in the context of the 'Intercosmos' programme for the development of new frequency ranges and the creation of long-range systems of space c ommunications jointly with the Byelorussian SSR, GDR, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 90 deg E in 1990; 14 deg W in 1990-1995; 26 deg E in 1995-1998; 96 deg E in 1998-1999 As of 4 September 2001 located at 77.53 deg E drifting at 0.186 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 8 located at 83.10E drifting at 0.160E degrees per day.
- 1993 May 27 - Gorizont s/n 39L - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861. FAILURE: Second stage did not reach planned velocity. Cause determined to be propellant contamination. Mass: 2,125 kg (4,684 lb).
- 1993 November 18 - Gorizont 29 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861. Mass: 2,125 kg (4,684 lb). Perigee: 35,800 km (22,200 mi). Apogee: 35,835 km (22,266 mi). Inclination: 5.00 deg. Period: 1,437.70 min.
Gorizont 29 (18 November 1993) and 30 (20 May 1994) were launched for Rimsat, Ltd., to provide communications services in the Pacific region under an agreement signed in 1992 between Rimsat and the Applied Mechanics NPO. Gorizont 29 was located at 130 degrees E in accordance with a lease arrangement with Rimsat Corporation (using slots allocated to Tonga by the International Telecommunications Union). Intended for use under commercial conditions. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 130 deg E in 1993-1997; 161 deg E in 1997-1998; 130 deg E in 1999. As of 5 September 2001 located at 130.39 deg E drifting at 0.011 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 8 located at 168.05E drifting at 0.374W degrees per day.
- 1994 May 20 - Gorizont 30 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861. Mass: 2,125 kg (4,684 lb). Perigee: 35,800 km (22,200 mi). Apogee: 35,833 km (22,265 mi). Inclination: 4.80 deg. Period: 1,437.60 min.
Stationed at 142.5 deg E as 'Rimsat-2' - leased to Rimsat Corporation, using an orbital slot allocated to Tonga. Communications satellite intended for use under commercial conditions. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 142 deg E in 1994-1997; 122 deg E in 1997-1999; 142 deg E in 1999. As of 5 September 2001 located at 142.86 deg E drifting at 0.016 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 173.22W drifting at 0.132W degrees per day.
Bibliography and Further Reading
- Vladimirov, A, Novosti kosmonavtiki, "Tablitsa zapuskov RN 'Proton' i 'Proton K'", 1998, Issue 10, page 25.
- Kaesmann, Ferdinand, et. al., Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, "Proton - Development of A Russian Launch Vehicle", 1998, Volume 51, page 3.
- McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Report (Internet Newsletter), Harvard University, Weekly, 1989 to Present. Essential internet newsletter recording worldwide weekly space events. Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
- McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
- Novosti Kosmonavtiki, "Zapushchen sputnik 'Gorizont'", 1996, Issue 2, page 24.
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