Mission type Optical imaging SATCAT no. 885 Spacecraft type Zenit-2 Launch date 24 September 1964 | COSPAR ID 1964-059A Mission duration 8 days Manufacturer OKB-1 | |
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Kosmos 46 (Russian: Космос 46 meaning Cosmos 46) or Zenit-2 No.23 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1964. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 46 was the twenty-second of eighty one such satellites to be launched and had a mass of 4,730.0 kilograms (10,427.9 lb).
Kosmos 46 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number R15001-05, flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 12:00 UTC on 24 September 1964, and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1964-059A and the Satellite Catalog Number 885.
Kosmos 46 was operated in a low Earth orbit; at an epoch of 29 September 1964 it had a perigee of 210 kilometres (130 mi), an apogee of 261 kilometres (162 mi) inclination of 51.2 degrees and an orbital period of 89.21 minutes. On 2 October 1964, after eight days in orbit, the satellite was deorbited with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery.