| Mission type | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | OKB-1 |
| COSPAR ID | 1964-066A |
| SATCAT no. | 00908 |
| Mission duration | 6 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4730 kg[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 14 October 1964 09:50:00 GMT |
| Rocket | Vostok-2 s/n R15002-01 |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 31/6 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 20 October 1964 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric[2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 204 km |
| Apogee altitude | 284 km |
| Inclination | 65.1° |
| Period | 89.4 minutes |
| Epoch | 14 October 1964 |
Kosmos 48 (Russian: Космос 48 meaning Cosmos 48) or Zenit-2 No.24 was a Soviet, first generation, low resolution, optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1964. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 48 was the twenty-third of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[3] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).
Kosmos 48 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number R15002-01,[4] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 09:50 GMT on 14 October 1964, and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1964-066A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00908.
Kosmos 48 was operated in a low Earth orbit; on 14 October 1964 it had a perigee of 204 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 284 kilometres (176 mi), inclination of 65.1° and an orbital period of 89.4 minutes. Midway through its planned reconnaissance mission, the thermal control system malfunctioned, with the temperature inside the spacecraft's pressurised capsule increasing to 43 °C. As a result of the malfunction, the spacecraft was deorbited two days earlier than planned, on 20 October 1964, six days after launch.[5] The return capsule, containing the cameras and film, was successfully recovered by parachute for recovery by Soviet forces.[6]
