| Kosmos 50 | |
| Names List: | Zenit 2-24 |
| Mission Type: | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
| Operator: | OKB-1 |
| Cospar Id: | 1964-070A |
| Satcat: | 919 |
| Mission Duration: | 8 days |
| Spacecraft Type: | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer: | OKB-1 |
| Launch Mass: | 4730 kg[1] |
| Launch Date: | 28 October 1964 10:48:00 GMT[2] |
| Launch Rocket: | Vostok-2 |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur 31/6 |
| Launch Contractor: | OKB-1 |
| Disposal Type: | Self-destructed |
| Destroyed: | 5 November 1964 |
| Decay Date: | 8–17 November 1964 |
| Orbit Epoch: | 28 October 1964 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric[3] |
| Orbit Regime: | Low Earth |
| Orbit Periapsis: | 190 km |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | 230 km |
| Orbit Inclination: | 51.3° |
| Orbit Period: | 88.7 minutes |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Programme: | Zenit programme Zenit-2 |
| Previous Mission: | Zenit 2-23 |
| Next Mission: | Zenit 2-25 |
| Programme2: | Kosmos (satellites) |
| Previous Mission2: | Kosmos 49 |
| Next Mission2: | Kosmos 51 |
Kosmos 50 (ru|Космос 50|italic=yes meaning Cosmos 50) 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 50 was the twenty-fourth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[4] and had a mass of 4730kg (10,430lb).
Kosmos 50 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number R15002-02,[5] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 10:48 GMT on 28 October 1964, and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1964-070A and the Satellite Catalog Number 00919.
Kosmos 50 was operated in a low Earth orbit, it had a perigee of 190km (120miles), an apogee of 230km (140miles), an inclination of 51.3° and an orbital period of 88.7 minutes. On 5 November 1964, after eight days in orbit, an attempt was made to deorbit the satellite so that its photographs could be developed and analysed. After its retrorockets failed to fire, the satellite was commanded to self-destruct to ensure it could not fall into enemy hands. Ninety-five pieces of debris were catalogued, which decayed from orbit between 8 and 17 November.