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.

[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.