Kosmos 46 (Russian: Космос 46 meaning Cosmos 46) or Zenit-2 No.23 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

Mission type	Optical imaging reconnaissance
Operator	OKB-1
COSPAR ID	1964-059A
SATCAT no.	00885
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 s/n R15001-05
Launch site	Baikonur, Site 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

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]