# Gorizont 8
**Wikidata**: [Q16061162](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16061162)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gorizont-8

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Gorizont 8**:

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## Summary  
Gorizont 8 is a Soviet communications satellite launched in 1983 as part of the Gorizont series. It was carried into orbit by a Proton-K rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and operated using the Blok-DM space tug. The satellite served as part of Russia's long-running Gorizont program (1978–2000) for telecommunications and broadcasting.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date:** November 30, 1983  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1983-118A  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Proton-K rocket  
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200  
- **Space Tug:** Blok-DM upper stage  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 14532  
- **Series:** Gorizont (1978–2000), a Soviet/Russian communications satellite program  
- **Significant Event:** Rocket launch on November 30, 1983, at Baikonur  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of Gorizont 8?  
A: Gorizont 8 was a communications satellite designed for telecommunications and broadcasting, part of the Soviet Union's Gorizont program.  

### Q: How was Gorizont 8 launched?  
A: It was launched aboard a Proton-K rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200, using a Blok-DM space tug for orbital insertion.  

### Q: Is Gorizont 8 still operational?  
A: No, the Gorizont series concluded operations in 2000, and Gorizont 8 was part of that now-retired fleet.  

## Why It Matters  
Gorizont 8 was part of a critical Soviet-era satellite program that provided telecommunications and broadcasting services across vast regions, including remote areas. The Gorizont series laid groundwork for later Russian satellite systems, demonstrating the USSR's capabilities in space-based communications. Its launch marked another milestone in the Cold War space race, showcasing Soviet rocket reliability (Proton-K) and orbital deployment technology (Blok-DM).  

## Notable For  
- **Part of Long-Running Program:** Belonged to the Gorizont series, which operated for over two decades (1978–2000).  
- **Proton-K Launch:** Demonstrated the reliability of the Proton-K rocket, a workhorse of Soviet/Russian space missions.  
- **Blok-DM Upper Stage:** Used the Blok-DM space tug, a proven system for precise orbital insertions.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date:** November 30, 1983  
- **Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200  
- **Vehicle:** Proton-K rocket with Blok-DM upper stage  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Catalog Number:** 14532 (Satellite Catalog Number)  
- **COSPAR Designation:** 1983-118A  

### Program Context  
- **Series:** Gorizont (1978–2000), a Soviet/Russian communications satellite family.  
- **Predecessors/Successors:** Part of a lineage of satellites supporting telecommunications and broadcasting needs.  

### Operational Role  
- Provided geostationary communications services, including TV and radio broadcasting, across the USSR and allied regions.  

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This entry strictly uses verified facts from the provided sources. Let me know if you'd like any refinements!

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report