# Progress 33

> Soviet uncrewed Progress cargo spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q10639644](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10639644)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_33)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/progress-33

## Summary
Progress 33 was a Soviet uncrewed Progress cargo spacecraft launched on November 20, 1987. Weighing 7,020 kilograms, it was an instance of the Progress 7K-TG class designed for logistical transport. The spacecraft was deployed from Gagarin's Start aboard a Soyuz-U2 carrier rocket.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Instance of Progress 7K-TG, a Soviet uncrewed spacecraft class.
- **Launch Date:** November 20, 1987.
- **Launch Site:** Gagarin's Start.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U2 carrier rocket.
- **Mass:** 7,020 kilograms.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1987-094A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 18568.
- **Entity Type:** Soviet uncrewed Progress cargo spacecraft.

## FAQs
### Q: What kind of spacecraft was Progress 33?
A: Progress 33 was a Soviet uncrewed cargo spacecraft specifically classified as a Progress 7K-TG. It was designed to transport supplies and equipment.

### Q: When and how was Progress 33 launched?
A: It was launched on November 20, 1987, using a Soyuz-U2 carrier rocket. The launch took place at Gagarin's Start.

### Q: What was the mass of Progress 33?
A: The spacecraft had a total mass of 7,020 kilograms.

## Why It Matters
Progress 33 represents a specific operational episode in the Soviet space program's logistical chain. As an instance of the Progress 7K-TG class, it exemplifies the standardized, uncrewed resupply missions critical for maintaining long-term space operations during the late 1980s.

The mission highlights the reliance on the Soyuz-U2 launch vehicle and the historic Gagarin's Start site, linking the spacecraft to core Soviet space infrastructure. Weighing over 7 tons, the craft illustrates the substantial payload capacities required for heavy cargo transport during this era of space exploration.

## Notable For
- Being a specific operational unit of the **Progress 7K-TG** class.
- Launching aboard the **Soyuz-U2** carrier rocket configuration.
- Utilizing **Gagarin's Start**, one of the most historic launch pads in spaceflight history.
- Maintaining a recorded mass of **7,020 kg**, indicative of its heavy-cargo capacity.
- Serving as an uncrewed solution for Soviet space logistics in 1987.

## Body

### Mission Profile
Progress 33 was identified as a Soviet uncrewed cargo spacecraft. Its primary function was logistical support, operating under the classification of the Progress 7K-TG system. The mission is tracked under the international designator COSPAR ID 1987-094A and the Satellite Catalog Number 18568.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft had a documented mass of **7,020 kilograms**. It was categorized within the broader hierarchy of Soviet space hardware as an uncrewed transport vehicle.

### Launch Operations
The spacecraft was successfully launched on **November 20, 1987**. The launch occurred specifically from **Gagarin's Start** (Site 1/5), a historic launch complex. The propulsion system used to place Progress 33 into orbit was the **Soyuz-U2**, a specialized carrier rocket frequently used for crewed and uncrewed Soviet missions during this period.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report