Kosmos 52 (Russian: Космос 52 meaning Cosmos 52) or Zenit-2 No.25 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 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.

[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.