Kosmos 46

Kosmos 46

A Zenit reentry capsule
Names	Zenit 2-22
Mission type	Optical imaging reconnaissance
Operator	OKB-1
COSPAR ID	1964-059A
SATCAT no.	885
Mission duration	8 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Zenit-2
Manufacturer	OKB-1
Launch mass	4730 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	24 September 1964 12:00:00 GMT
Rocket	Vostok-2
Launch site	Baikonur 31/6
Contractor	OKB-1
End of mission
Disposal	Recovered
Landing date	2 October 1964
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric[2]
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee altitude	211 km
Apogee altitude	264 km
Inclination	51.3°
Period	89.2 minutes
Epoch	24 September 1964
Zenit programme Zenit-2 Kosmos (satellites)

Kosmos 46 (Russian: Космос 46 meaning Cosmos 46) or Zenit-2 No.22 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, 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^[3] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).

Kosmos 46 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number R15001-05,^[4] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 12:00 GMT on 24 September 1964,^[5] 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 00885.^[6]

Kosmos 46 was operated in a low Earth orbit, on 24 September 1964, it had a perigee of 211 kilometres (131 mi), an apogee of 264 kilometres (164 mi), inclination of 51.3° and an orbital period of 89.2 minutes. On 2 October 1964, after eight days in orbit, the satellite was deorbited with its return capsule descending by parachute for recovery by Soviet forces.^[7]

See also

• 1964 in spaceflight

References

1. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1964-059A - 27 February 2020
2. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1964-059A - 27 February 2020
3. Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
4. Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
5. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
6. "Cosmos 46". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
7. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 17 December 2013.