Intelsat 33e

Intelsat 33e
NamesIS-33e
Intelsat 33 EpicNG
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorIntelsat
COSPAR ID2016-053B
SATCAT no.41748
WebsiteIntelsat IS-33e
Mission duration8 years, 1 month, 24 days (achieved)
15 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftIntelsat 33e
Spacecraft typeBoeing 702
BusBSS 702MP
ManufacturerBoeing Satellite Systems
Launch mass6,600 kg (14,600 lb)
Dimensions7.9 × 3.8 × 3.2 m (26 × 12 × 10 ft)
Power13 kW
Start of mission
Launch date24 August 2016, 22:16:01 UTC
RocketAriane 5 ECA (VA232)
Launch siteGuiana, ELA-3
ContractorArianespace
Entered service29 January 2017
End of mission
DisposalBreakup
Destroyed19 October 2024, ~04:30 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Longitude60° East
Transponders
BandHigh throughput (HTS):
C-band: 20
Ku-band: 249 (36 MHz equivalent)
Ka-band: (450 MHz)
BandwidthC-band: 2,670 MHz (downlink)
Ku-band: 9,194 MHz (downlink)
Ka-band: 450 MHz
Coverage areaEurope, Central Africa, Middle East, Asia, Australia

Intelsat 33e, also known as IS-33e, was a high throughput (HTS) geostationary communications satellite operated by Intelsat and designed and manufactured by Boeing Space Systems on the BSS 702MP satellite bus. It was the second satellite of the EpicNG service, and covered Europe, Africa and most of Asia from the 60° East longitude, where it replaced Intelsat 904. It had a mixed C-band, Ku-band and Ka-band payload with all bands featuring wide and C- and Ku- also featured spot beams.

After nearly eight years in service, the satellite broke into at least 57 pieces on 19 October 2024. As of December 2024, over 700 pieces of debris have been detected.