| Mission type | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | OKB-1 |
| COSPAR ID | 1964-033A |
| SATCAT no. | 00816 |
| Mission duration | 8 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4730 kg[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 23 June 1964, 10:19:00 GMT |
| Rocket | Vostok-2 s/n G15001-05 |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 31/6 |
| Contractor | OKB-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 1 July 1964 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric[2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 209 km |
| Apogee altitude | 293 km |
| Inclination | 65.0° |
| Period | 89.4 minutes |
| Epoch | 23 June 1964 |
Kosmos 33 (Russian: Космос 33 meaning Cosmos 33) or Zenit-2 No.20 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1964. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 33 was the nineteenth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[3] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).
Kosmos 33 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number G15001-05,[4] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:19 GMT on 23 June 1964,[5] and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1964-033A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00816.[6]
Kosmos 33 was operated in a low Earth orbit; at an epoch of 23 June 1964 it had a perigee of 209 kilometres (130 mi), an apogee of 293 kilometres (182 mi), inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 89.4 minutes. On 1 July 1964, after 8 days in orbit, the satellite was deorbited with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery by Soviet forces.[7][8]
