Kosmos 52 (Russian: Космос 52 meaning Cosmos 52) or Zenit-2 No.26 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1965. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 52 was the twenty-fifth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched^[3] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).

Kosmos 52

Mission type	Optical imaging reconnaissance
Operator	OKB-1
COSPAR ID	1965-001A
SATCAT no.	00968
Mission duration	8 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Zenit-2
Manufacturer	OKB-1
Launch mass	4730 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	11 January 1965 09:36:00 GMT
Rocket	Vostok-2 s/n R15002-03
Launch site	Baikonur, Site 31/6
Contractor	OKB-1
End of mission
Disposal	Recovered
Landing date	19 January 1965
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric[2]
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee altitude	203 km
Apogee altitude	298 km
Inclination	65.0°
Period	89.5 minutes
Epoch	11 January 1965

Kosmos 52 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number R15002-03,^[4] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 09:36 GMT on 11 January 1965,^[5] with the spacecraft receiving its Kosmos designation - along with the International Designator 1965-001A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00968 - upon its successful insertion into orbit. It was the first satellite to be launched in the year 1965.

Kosmos 52 was operated in a low Earth orbit. On 11 January 1965 it had a perigee of 203 kilometres (126 mi), an apogee of 298 kilometres (185 mi), an inclination of 65.0° and an orbital period of 89.5 minutes.^[6] On 19 January 1965, eight days after launch, Kosmos 52 was deorbited so that its return capsule could be recovered by Soviet forces and its photos developed and analysed.^[7]