| Mission type | Venus flyby [1] |
|---|---|
| Operator | OKB-1 |
| COSPAR ID | 1965-094A |
| SATCAT no. | 01742 |
| Mission duration | 16 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | 3MV-4 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 6510 kg [2] |
| Dry mass | 960 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 23 November 1965 03:22:00 GMT |
| Rocket | Molniya 8K78 s/n U15000-30[3] |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 31/6 |
| Contractor | OKB-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Launch failure |
| Decay date | 9 December 1965 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric[4] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 227 km |
| Apogee altitude | 310 km |
| Inclination | 51.9° |
| Period | 89.8 minutes |
| Epoch | 23 November 1965 |
Kosmos 96 (Russian: Космос 96 meaning Cosmos 96), or 3MV-4 No.6, was a Soviet spacecraft intended to explore Venus. A 3MV-4 spacecraft launched as part of the Venera programme, Kosmos 96 was to have made a flyby of Venus. However, due to a launch failure, it did not depart low Earth orbit. Its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere is often speculated as the cause of the Kecksburg UFO incident.