# Cosmos 45
**Wikidata**: [Q1119656](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1119656)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-45

## Summary
Cosmos 45 was a Soviet Zenit-4 reconnaissance satellite launched on September 13, 1964. It was propelled into orbit by a Voskhod launch vehicle from the Gagarin's Start site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Designated under the COSPAR ID 1964-055A, this mission was part of the Soviet Union's extensive Cosmos satellite program.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Cosmos 45 is an instance of the Zenit-4 class of Soviet reconnaissance satellites.
- **Launch Date:** The mission launched on September 13, 1964.
- **Launch Time:** The rocket launch occurred at 09:45:00.
- **Launch Site:** The flight originated from Gagarin's Start (Site 1/5) at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
- **Launch Vehicle:** A Voskhod rocket was used to place the satellite into orbit.
- **COSPAR ID:** The international designation for this object is 1964-055A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** The US Space Command (SCN) number is 00880.
- **Alternative Name:** The satellite is also known by the alias "Kosmos 45".

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Cosmos 45?
A: Cosmos 45 was a Soviet reconnaissance satellite specifically identified as a Zenit-4 type spacecraft. It was designed for intelligence gathering as part of the Soviet space program.

### Q: When was Cosmos 45 launched?
A: Cosmos 45 was launched on September 13, 1964. The specific time of the rocket launch was 09:45:00.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Cosmos 45?
A: The satellite was launched using a Voskhod launch vehicle. This rocket is a derivative of the R-7 family and was also used for Russian crewed spacecraft.

## Why It Matters
Cosmos 45 serves as a representative example of the Soviet Union's operational space reconnaissance capabilities during the mid-1960s. As a Zenit-4 satellite, it illustrates the Soviet military's reliance on space-based assets to gather intelligence during the Cold War, utilizing optical systems to survey areas of interest.

The mission is also notable for its use of the Voskhod launch vehicle and the historic Gagarin's Start launch complex. Launching from the same pad used for Vostok 1 (Yuri Gagarin's flight), Cosmos 45 highlights the dual-use nature of Soviet space infrastructure, where launch systems designed for the crewed space race were simultaneously employed for deploying critical military satellites. The specific mission identifier, COSPAR 1964-055A, places it within the timeline of the 55th successful space launch of 1964 globally, reflecting the rapid acceleration of space activity during this era.

## Notable For
- **Zenit-4 Classification:** Belonging to a specific class of Soviet reconnaissance satellites (Zenit-4) optimized for intelligence gathering.
- **Historic Launch Site:** Utilizing "Gagarin's Start," the same launch pad used for the first human spaceflight.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Being deployed by the Voskhod rocket, a vehicle also famous for launching the first multi-person spacecraft.
- **1964 Operations:** Contributing to the dense operational schedule of the Cosmos program in the mid-1960s.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Cosmos 45 (alias Kosmos 45) was a Soviet satellite launched as part of the Zenit-4 program. These spacecraft were designed for reconnaissance purposes, forming a critical part of the Soviet Union's orbital surveillance network. The mission was tracked under the international COSPAR ID 1964-055A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00880.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on September 13, 1964. The mission utilized a Voskhod launch vehicle, an evolution of the R-7 Semyorka family of rockets. This vehicle class was derived from the launchers used for the Voskhod crewed spacecraft program.

**Launch Site:**
The launch took place at Gagarin's Start (also known as Site 1/5) at the Baikanur Cosmodrome. This site is historically significant as the launch point for Sputnik 1 and Vostok 1.

**Event Specifics:**
- **Point in Time:** 1964-09-13
- **Time:** 09:45:00

### Program Context
Cosmos 45 is related to the broader category of Zenit-4 satellites. The Voskhod vehicle used to launch it is also closely linked to the Voskhod series of crewed spacecraft, demonstrating the shared technological lineage between Soviet military and civilian space programs during this period. The satellite is referenced in databases such as Wolfram Language (Entity["Satellite", "00880"]) and has Wikipedia entries in Hungarian, Macedonian, Polish, Serbo-Croatian, and Serbian.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report